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For Part Two, Click HERE
by Green Machine
BRING ON THE BRITS!
Valero moves up to face returning Ricky Hatton
11/01/10 – The Boxing Tribune – Ricky Hatton is back! In a shocking announcement by promoter Bob Arum earlier today, it was made public that not only was WBC lightweight champion Edwin Valero cleared to fight in the U.K., and was moving up to the Junior Welterweight division, but that his first opponent in his new weight class would be none other than Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton.
Hatton’s last bit of ring action was a brutal second round knockout at the hands of Manny Pacquiao back in 2009. Hatton had officially retired, but grew weary and bored of life without the fight fans chanting his name. After numerous medical tests and approval by his family and the British Commission, Hatton decided to give it another shot. Why Valero was his opponent of choice is anyone’s guess.
Getting Valero clearance wasn’t easy either, but Arum pulled it off. Unsuccessful in getting the lightweight champ a license to fight in the United States [so far], Arum and Valero settled for the next best thing, and a high profile opponent to top it off. There’s no doubt that the U.K. will be rocking when this bout takes place next year.
“When you look at this fight,” stated Arum, “you see two great action fighters. Two multi world title holders, two guys that come right at their opponents throwing power punches, it’s a fight that is more than fan friendly. Just as we saw Ricky Hatton usher in a new era when he defeated Kostya Tszyu, we could very well see Valero do the same by beating Hatton, or maybe even see the rebirth of Hatton if Ricky can be the first man to beat Edwin. It’s a great fight.”
There’s no mystery in why Arum chose to bring Valero to the U.K., the bigger question is why, after a brutal knockout that ended his career, would Hatton choose an opponent known for stopping all but one challenger. On paper, Hatton’s faced a much broader and more accomplished range of opponents but after his stoppage to Floyd Mayweather in 2007 many felt Hatton just wasn’t the same fighter. Just as Arum stated, this could be the fight that launches the era of Edwin Valero, or re-launches the career of Ricky Hatton. Should the latter occur, one has to wonder how long the Hitman can last. We won’t know until fight night, but predictions lean heavily towards Valero and no one thinks it’ll be a pretty ending.
Edwin Valero vs. Ricky Hatton will take place January 8th, 2011 at the London Arena, in London England. The full card will be broadcast live by SKY Sports, Showtime television in the U.S. will show the main event.
RICKY FLATTON!
Valero stops Hatton in Three
01-08-2011, The Boxing Tribune – It seemed like a good idea at the time. That must have been one the thoughts going through Ricky Hatton’s mind as he lie at ring center at the end of the third round earlier tonight. The returning former world champion didn’t lack for support, tens of thousands turned out to see “The Hitman” take one more stab at boxing stardom but what they saw was a shell of what was once one of the most exciting fighters get beaten soundly by a younger and hungrier man trying to make a bigger name for himself.
Edwin Valero had a lot on his mind going into tonight’s fight. It was his debut at welterweight for one, his first time fighting in the U.K., and you know in the back of his mind somewhere he had to wonder what it would be like fighting in enemy territory where the fans wouldn’t be chanting his name. In the end, none of that mattered because in less than three rounds Valero had stopped his opponent and probably the entire U.K. in its tracks.
Hatton looked great in the opening round, he was aggressive, busy, and landing better punches than he was taking. Valero was firing back but seemed to be put off his game by Hatton’s aggression and even appeared dazed a few times during the round. It was the first time anyone dared to take the fight to Edwin, and he had his hands full…for now anyway.
Despite a rough start, Valero came out strong in the second and turned the fight right around. A vicious body shot had Hatton visibly shaken and though he managed to (somehow) survive the round, he paid the price. Valero was relentless and by this time the arena had gone quiet. By the rounds end, Hatton already looked like he went 10 full ones and wasn’t going to get any better.
The third round was academic at best. Ricky didn’t get a single punch off and was floored twice, the second being for the full ten count courtesy of a Valero body shot. At the 2:59 mark of round three, Ricky Hatton was counted out and Edwin Valero remained undefeated (30-0, 29 KO’s), adding another knockout to his record.
“What you just saw was history in the making!” Bob Arum shouted, “The young lion beat the old lion and now it’s Edwin’s time, it’s his time to live the dream so many young fighters strive for and you’re going to see what he can really do. We’re going to get this kid big fights and if the United States doesn’t want him then we’ll fight here in the U.K. again, or anywhere else.”
Hatton, always a gracious and classy fighter, congratulated Valero and said a few words to his fans, “This is the end of the line for me. I wanted to give it a go and it wasn’t to be, thank you to all my fans for coming out and for all the support over the years. I think maybe a year or two earlier and this would have been a great slugfest, but not now. This is most definitely the end of my career as far as fighting goes.”
So now the question still lingers, will Edwin Valero ever get a chance to fight in the United States? He has everything it takes to be a major star, everyone loves a knockout artists. The biggest hurdle isn’t the fans though; it’s the athletic commissions and that nagging head injury that, so far, hasn’t had any effect that we can see on the two division champion. He wants the chance, we say let him have it.
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