: Fri Mar 21, 2008 12:12 pm
upthecats wrote:
I don't think he has grown out of it at all, he comfortably makes 140 and always will IMO. The eating, boozing thing is a thing that concerns a lot of people inside the team, but on the other hand some feel he almost needs to balloon up to give himself the motivation to live like a monk and train his knackers off in a 12 week camp. Having said that though, I think before Floyd and after that fight there has been a significant change on that score.
I've no doubt he'll be in good condition for this fight. He is obliged to be. But can he sustain that conviction? He's signed a five(?) fight deal with Golden Boy. That's a lot of time making 140 for a guy who loves his food and booze. At 29, most fighters are looking at going up at least one division from their prime.
His team have every right to be concerned about Ricky becoming weight drained. You can't keep on losing 15-20lbs before weigh-in and not have it affect you in some way. At 25 you have the energy to compensate. At 30-32 you don't.
He doesn't have the physical presence and ability to bully opponents the same as he does at 140. It's just a shame for Ricky at the moment that there's a lot more quality around in the 147 division than the 140. You certainly can't knock the lad though for stepping out of his 'own' division to have a crack at the very best of the 147's.
I don't knock the lad for wanting to be the best. He was extremely brave in taking on Mayweather, an opponent who has destroyed pressure fighters by the dozen in the past (look at the Gatti fight).
Interesting that Manny Pacquiao's team are in discussion with Golden Boy about a fight with Hatton should Manny show well up a weight and Hatton defeat Lazcano and (probably) Malignaggi.
TBH, I think Pacquiao has no business moving up to 140 (although he says he's comfortable at that weight). Hatton should have too much power for Pac, but it still would be difficult.