Since his last professional fight, which was a second round knockout loss to Pacquiao in May of 2009, Hatton has hit rock bottom and was last seen in this homemade video snorting several lines of cocaine in a Manchester hotel.

The footage was first revealed by News Of The World after Ricky’s friend Emma Bowe (who is also a boxer) released the tape to the newspaper telling them, “I’m doing this for Ricky’s own good. I hope he gets help and advice before cocaine destroys him.”

It is still too early to tell if this strategy will work, but it does appear to have Hatton rethinking his out-of-control lifestyle.  Max Clifford, a spokesperson for Hatton, has spoken to his client since the incident and said that he is “very upset” over it:

“He feels he’s let everybody that matters down badly, his friends, his family, his fans and of course most of all himself, that he is, in his own words, he’s been in a bad place for some time, probably before even his last fight and obviously he’s really upset about what has happened but he totally takes responsibility, takes the blame, ‘It’s all down to me’.

“He just wants to let everybody know how he feels, he’s got to sort himself out.” [News Of The World]

It is unfortunate to see that it took a publicly released tape of Hatton snorting cocaine to finally bring him to his senses, but at least he now realizes that the lifestyle he is currently living is not a healthy one for himself, or his family.  However, on important question remains:  Will it be enough to change his ways?

We can only hope so.

Hat Tip – [News Of The World]

Floyd “Money” Mayweather, as he likes to call himself, is set to fight Juan Marquez on July 18th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, but the main focus of the discussion seemed to be on the possibility of a Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight, much to the dismay of Floyd.  After being asked the question on whether he should be chasing Manny, Mayweather continued to defend his thrown as best fighter in the world.  At times the conversation got heated, especially when it was suggested that Floyd was the best pound-for-pound fighter until he retired, and now Pacquiao holds that reign.

Floyd Mayweather ends the argument by pointing to Manny’s losses, and then states “Pacquiao can be called the best pound for pound, you just call me the cash king, you know stats don’t lie.”  You are right Floyd.  Stats don’t lie.  And that’s why you are still number one, but the doubters continue to grow now.  So all that’s left for us to winder is whether we will ever get to see Pacquiao vs Mayweather?  If the boxing gods are kind, the answer will undoubtedly be “YES”.

It looked like that was exactly what would happen during the post-fight interview with Floyd Sr. when he was questioned by Kevin Iole.  Days before the fight, Iole, along with some others, reported that Floyd Sr. and Hatton had a falling apart.  That sparked a bit of a confrontation this time around as Sr. rejected those claims.  After exchanging some thoughts on the situation, Floyd tells him to “get that mic out my face”, before kindly asking him to “get your ass off me”.

There are some other interesting comments in the interview, like when Floyd Sr. talks about how he doesn’t want to say he thinks Hatton should retire, but he thinks Hatton should retire (yes it is as confusing as it sounds).

Here is a clip of most of the post-fight interview.  The exchange between Iole and Floyd is at about 3:50 to 5:30.

Many so called experts have dubbed the fight as the perfect 50/50 match up, as each fighter has the credentials that could see them prevail come May 2nd. Pacquiao has the blistering hand speed, the fleet of foot and the southpaw style that could leave the “Hitman” chasing shadows all night, similar to the merry dance Floyd Mayweather jr lead Ricky Hatton. However Hatton has the rugged, all-action approach that could bully Manny into submission, Ricky’s favorite punch, the body shot delivered around the floating rib, is devastating, just ask Jose Luis Castillo, this could be crucial because Pacquiao has already succumbed to this shot twice in career to fighters a lot smaller that Hatton.

The weight is being seen as the equaling factor in this fight. As Ricky is undefeated at 140lbs throughout his career, bulldozing his way to the Ring Magazine Light-Welterweight title. Manny on the other hand may be superior in skill, but his size is inferior to Hatton, having started his career as Flyweight (112lbs). Many critics will of course argue that Pacquiao is coming off the biggest victory of his career, the TKO stoppage of Oscar DeLa Hoya, a fight competed a weight above, so size will not matter. However this victory should be taken with a pinch of salt, as it was clear Oscar was a shadow of his former self, a punch bag that night, who left it on the scales. I believe Hatton is right when he states “if he gets hit he’s going to be hit by the biggest man he’s ever faced”, However Pacquiao is equally correct in stating “I don’t care if he’s bigger or stronger, boxing is more than that. It’s also mental and about the quickness of your mind and quickness of your body, that’s very important, speed is very important”. All this should lead to this fight being a coin flip match up, the perfect analogy to use, given that this fight is being showcased in the gambling capital of Las Vegas.

Another subplot to this dream match up, is the trainers of the respected fighters, who could also determine the outcome of the fight. Manny is under the tutelage of the wily Freddie Roach, who has taken many fighters including Pacquiao to the top echelons of boxing. Ricky on the other hand has the brash Floyd Mayweather sr in his corner, a trainer who has guided notable fighter such as Oscar Dela Hoya and Joan Guzman to world titles. The “Pacman” who was thought of as one handed fighter has developed into the most gifted all round fighter, under Roach and has notched up victories against Juan Manuel Marquez, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera. Whereas the “Hitman” who was regarded as a one dimensional pressure fighter, with no method to his madness, has transformed since he hooked up with Mayweather sr, moving his head as he comes into deliver the crushing power shots, going back to jab to set up the shots, all this was seen in Hatton’s 11 round demolition over the fast talking New Yorker Paulie Malignaggi. With even the tactical genius Roach and the supremely self-confident Mayweather sr cancelling each other out, what expert can call this fight?

If the styles of each fighter blend come May 2nd this could be fight of the year for sure, I don’t see the fight going to the judges decision, with the speed and technical ability of Manny Pacquiao being too much for the Hitman, or Hatton’s sheer size and ferocious style bullying the Pacman for the stoppage, either way its going to be exciting and sure to get any boxing fans juices flowing. Your Thoughts?

Former NFL Star Sammy Baugh has passed away.

The Indianpolis Coltsand Tony Dungy are looking to make history tonight.

The Green Bay Packers have put Safety Atari Bigby on Injured reserve.

The New Orleans Saints have put Running back Reggie Bush on Injured reserve.

Rey Maualuga, star linebacker from USC has been named team MVP.

The Los Angeles Clippers rookie Eric Gordon talks about his teamates drug use at Indiana.

The Toronto Raptors have lost their 3rd straight at home and Chris Bosh is a little frustrated with the fans.

Todd Bertuzzi from The Calgary Flames, remembers where the net is and Marion Gaborik is back for the Minnestoa Wild, and hasn’t missed a beat.

Floyd Mayweatherwants to give Ricky Hatton another beating.

Evander Holyfield is old, but is still fighting.

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Agreed the fact that his record does boast the names of Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins and he has remained undefeated for 18 years means he should achieve recollection but he shouldn’t attain the status of the best boxer Britain has produced or top 3 in the pound for pound rankings. Joe has achieved these current adulation’s because of his victories over a 43 year old Bernard Hopkins, a 39 year old Roy Jones Jr who both floored him despite their age, and the vastly overrated contenders in Mikkel Kessler and Jeff Lacy.

Lets put these victories into perspective. Firstly Roy Jones, a great victory no doubt, but Jones has been a shot fighter for almost 5 years, he was great, no doubt, ranked PFP top 3 in his pomp, but now aged 39 he isn’t even ranked in the top 6 of a rubbish division. As he lost to Glen Johnson and Antonio Tarver, fighters who have done nothing since beating Jones. Johnson for instance lost twice to Clinton Woods, a fighter who Roy schooled but yet Johnson beats Jones, what does this tell you ? Calzaghe in his own book called Jones “washed up” but yet wanted to fight him after this and not in his peak, why ? To add to his myth. If Calzaghe did fight Jones in his prime the beating he would have received would be similar to the one Floyd Mayweather dished out on Ricky Hatton.

Bernard Hopkins would have been a credible opponent years ago, when he was the linear middleweight champion, but no Calzaghe waited till old father time had ticked on Bernie and he had suffered back to back loses to Jermain Taylor. Of course Calzaghe fan boys will tell you he offered Hopkins 2 million to fight him in Wales, an offer Bernard rightfully turned down because he was earning three times this amount defending his middleweight titles in the USA. Instead Joe fought Hopkins in 2008 when he was 43 and past it, however to Hopkins’ credit he took Joe to a highly contested split decision, knocking him down in the first round despite his age, adding further speculation that the Calzaghe legacy is overrated.

Then theres Calzaghe’s victories over young challengers Mikkel Kessler and Jeff Lacey. Kessler was the unified WBC and WBA champion but had never faced anyone ranked highly in his division or in the pound for pound rankings and mainly built his undefeated record in Denmark and Germany against bums. Another example is the vastly overrated Jeff Lacy who was considered the second coming of Mike Tyson before the Calzaghe defeat but had only had 21 fights before the 2006 showdown. Yes Calzaghe won the fight by a landslide, all credit to him but why hasn’t he fought more young contenders such as Kelly Pavlik Chad Dawson’s of this world since then, instead taking fights against Peter Manfredo famous only for his valiant effort on the contender series, he didn’t even win the show, because he was more worried about his 0.

The foremost evidence that Calzaghe’s legacy is a fraud is that he’s never stepped up to the plate to fight the top American contenders in America in their prime, as he was happy to fight in Britain for his entire career. Also the fact that Joe took 10 years to unify all the titles in a very poor division.