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Amir Khan (21-1, 15KOs), 2004 Olympic silver medalist, proved to the whole world that he can bring superfights in the Junior Welterweight boxing division after easily defeating Andreas Kotelnik (31-3-1, 13KOs). Amir Khan took out Kotelnik by a 12-round unanimous decision, acquiring Kotelnik’s WBA light welterweight title at the M.E.N. Arena, in Manchester.

During the fight, Amir Khan had shown his huge improvement under his new trainer Freddie Roach. Amir Khan definitely improved his speed over Kotelnik, which gave him control of the pace of the fight. Khan started aggressively, but Kotelnik gave a strong late outburst. Generally, Khan dominated Kotelnik in terms of power and speed, but mostly in terms of power. In addition to that, Khan was more defensive in his fighting style. His habit of exposing his chin was lessened as he would tuck his chin and move around to keep out of Kotelnik’s punching range.

Unfortunately, Kotelnik became very complacent, giving Khan the chance to find his groove. He should have given his best from the start. In boxing, you can’t allow your opponent to establish his rhythm, or else you will be in great danger.

Another thing that I had noticed was, it seemed that Andreas Kotelnik lacked power during that fight, since Kotelnik’s punches after round six did not seem to have any effect on Khan. He needed a punch that could upset Khan’s rhythm and style, but he was never able to find that punch.

Kotelnik had difficulty with Khan’s speed, making it hard for him to quickly shift from defense to offense and vice versa. But he still did a good job of not getting too overwhelmed by Khan. Andreas Kotelnik should be given credit for not giving up so easily.

The judges’ scores were 120-108, 118-111, and 118-111.

Khan-Hatton

After defeating Andreas Kotelnik, Khan’s trainer Freddie Roach says that his fighter could be looking at a possible fight with another British boxer, Ricky Hatton. However, promoter Frank Warren had advised Ricky Hatton to retire and avoid the showdown with the current WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan.

Frank Warren was Ricky Hatton’s former promoter, but they split and Warren is now Amir Khan’s current promoter.

Ricky Hatton is still in the hospital for some unknown reason and there is still no telling if Ricky Hatton would insist on challenging Amir Khan for a super fight.

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Former British boxing champion Ricky Hatton, 30 years old, remains in the hospital in Manchester with a suspected stomach virus. He was admitted early Tuesday to Tameside General Hospital when he had complained about severe stomach cramps and chest pains.

Some fans had thought that Ricky Hatton have caught the dreaded swine flu, but doctors had already ruled swine flu out. The doctors also initially believed that the former IBF junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton was suffering from a bad case of food poisoning. However, tests are still being conducted to further validate their diagnosis.

“He suffered sever stomach cramps and was in absolute agony. It was thought at first he had swine flu but it seems he had caught some kind of gastric bug,” Ray Hatton explained.

His agent Paul Speak said: “He is still waiting for the results, but he could be allowed home on Friday.”

Ricky Hatton’s father, Ray Hatton, was told by the doctors that his son might have had the virus for a while now but was not able to realize it.

Ricky Hatton should keep watch of his lifestyle from now on, because his body is also his money machine. If Hatton loses his health, he will also lose income. He should take care of his body and be more careful of what he eats, because he is not getting any younger. And just maybe, he is applying to much pressure to his body.

Right now, there is a possibility that Ricky Hatton (45-2, 32 KO’s) will be returning to the ring this November to face the unbeaten WBA welterweight champion Vyacheslav Senchenko (29-0, 20 KO’s). But to me, Senchenko is not the best choice for him to fight. Ricky Hatton could be in big trouble against him, since Senchenko has the winning momentum on his side. In addition to that, Senchenko is a really skilled boxer.

Amir Khan is also one of his potential opponents, however he has to win against Andreas Kotelnik this Saturday night to be able to get a receptive fight with Hatton.

Hopefully, Ricky Hatton will get well soon and get his desired comeback fight.

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Freddie Roach is confident that Amir Khan (20-1, 15 KOs) will win against the Ukrainian Andreas Kotelnik (31-2, 13 KO’s) in July 18, and that this win will open up an opportunity for a Khan-Hatton showdown. Roach thinks that the fight will receive great feedback in the UK, since both fighters are fairly popular there.

“… I think it would be a huge fight, here in the United Kingdom you would sell a lot of tickets and make a lot of money, so why not?” Roach explained. “I think it would be a huge great fight. I think it could happen soon to be honest with you.”

This fight may be able to bring a lot of money for both Amir Khan and Ricky Hatton. However, it still depends on the result of the Khan-Kotelnik bout. If Amir Khan loses to the Ukranian light welterweight champion, which most critics think is very likely to happen, then people might lose interest in a Khan-Hatton fight. In addition to that, Hatton seems to be interested in the WBA title, and if Khan cannot win the title, then Hatton might look for other bouts somewhere else.

Roach told Sky Sports News that Hatton might not be able to resist a possible bout with Khan once Khan has the WBA title around his waist.

Ricky Hatton, needs a huge win right now, to give him a boost and put his career back on track, after being dismantled by a second round knockout from Manny Pacquiao, past May 2.

Khan is a perfect target for Hatton, because of several reasons. First, Khan is very popular, and a fight with Khan can generate more ticket sales. Second, Khan has a weak chin, if Hatton can take advantage of Khan’s vulnerability then there is a good chance of him winning without having his own chin tested.

This could be Hatton’s chance to reacquire his glory and honor as a boxer. He is already 30 years old and could be past his prime, but he wants to prove his critics otherwise.

Both fighters will have to face their fears of being knocked out by their opponents.

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The pair face of each other in Las Vegas on May 2nd with the winner of their battle crowned boxing’s pound-for-pound king.

Pacquiao’s mouthy coach Freddie Rouch warned ‘The Hitman’;”If you try to box Manny,you’ll get killeed.
mouthy told manny that if it goes past three rounds, I’d be mad at him.

Roach is a sworm enemy of Hatton’s trainer Floyd Mayweather Snr and claims his fellow American is too late to save the Manchester idol from defeat.

Last year Billy Graham has been replaced by Mayweather Snr,but Roach said:”He’s going to try and make him a better boxer, but obviously it is too late to change him at this stage of his career.

Roach said that I’ve been with Manny eaight years and I have never tried to change him, just improve on what we do.

“Ricky and Floyd have totally different styles. The best way for Ricky to fight is like he does.”

The duo have been fierce rivals ever since Mayweather Snr replaced Roach as the trainer of Oscar de la Hoya.

Mayweather Snr dubbed his enemy ‘Joke Coach’ Roach, who even boasts that Pacquiao’s chief sparring partner, Jorge Linares, is better than Hatton.

“We figure that if Manny can look sharp against a fighter like Linares, he can look sharp against anyone.

“Good work is good work. I don’t care what style it is. Linares makes Manny think and not many fighters can do that.

“Ricky’s very basic. Linares is a thinker and it raises Pacquiao’s game.”

Roach clearly hopes to unhinge Hatton, who jetted off to Las Vegas yesterday to prepare for his IBO and Ring Magazine light-welterweight title defence.

He has also demanded that Joe Cortez, the referee Hatton was critical of when he suffered his only loss in 46 fights to Floyd Mayweather Jnr in December 2007, is in charge of the Pacquiao fight.

Hatton has ignored gobby Roach and flew off to the Nevada desert after promoting his welterweight brother Matthew’s sixth-round stoppage of Ted Bami in Altrincham on Saturday night.

Matthew will box on his brother’s undercard alongside British Olympian Joe Murray, who won his professional debut on the same bill, outpointing Sid Razak in a six-round featherweight bout.

Hatton said: “It was an exceptional performance from Joe. He won every round and nearly got him in the end.”

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Two of boxing’s biggest stars will meet in the ring in what could be the year’s biggest pay-per-view event. Five-division world champion MANNY “Pac Man” PACQUIAO and Ring Magazine and IBO World Junior Welterweight champion RICKY “The Hitman” HATTON will rumble for Hatton’s World Junior Welterweight Championships Saturday, May 2 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. These two boxing artists will have a 20 x 20 foot canvas to paint a black and blue masterpiece that the world has been waiting to see. Pacquiao and Hatton boast a combined record of 93-4-2 (68 KOs), a winning percentage of 94% and a victory by knockout ratio of 73%.

Pacquiao vs. Hatton, a 12-round bout for Hatton’s Ring Magazine and IBO World Junior Welterweight titles, is promoted by Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions in association with MP Promotions and Hatton Promotions.

Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs) secured his claim as the 2008 Fighter of the Year, a year reminiscent of what Hall of Fame fighter Henry Armstrong did in 1937-1938, winning three fights in three different weight divisions, two of which were world titles. Armstrong is the only man to hold three world championships simultaneously, capturing world titles at featherweight, welterweight and lightweight (in that order) during a nine-month span between November 1937 and August 1938. Pacquiao, officially proclaimed a National Treasure by the Philippines, captured the WBC World Super Featherweight title last March by defeating Juan Manuel Marquez and the WBC World Lightweight title in June by knocking out defending champion David Diaz. He completed his personal trifecta by stopping Oscar de la Hoya in a welterweight battle on December 6. Pacquiao’s last two victories were in his debut fight in each weight division with the latter fight being two full divisions above his previous fight. Pacquiao, 30, has won 24 of his last 25 bouts, blitzing through boxing’s best fighters since 2003 including Erik Morales (TKO 10, KO 3,), Marco Antonio Barrera (TKO 11, W 12), Marquez (D 12, W 12,), Diaz (TKO 9) and De La Hoya (KO 8). Pacquiao was previously named the 2006 Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America andRing Magazine.

The storied career of Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs), an international superstar hailing from Manchester, England, began in 1997 and for the last 12 years he has been thrilling fight fans around the world with his aggressive style in the ring and down to earth attitude outside of the ring. Owner of victories over world champions Kostya Tszyu, Vince Phillips, Paulie Malignaggi, Luis Collazo, Jose Luis Castillo, Juan Urango and Carlos Maussa, Hatton is a two division world champion. He fell short of the pound-for-pound best fighter title and world welterweight championships in his 2007 super-fight against Floyd Mayweather. However, the 30-year-old bounced back impressively at his natural weight of 140 pounds last May when he scored a near shutout 12-round unanimous decision over Juan Lazcano. His most recent fight was a scintillating shutout performance against world champion Malignaggi last November, ending with an 11th round TKO for “The Hitman”. Hatton was honored as the 2005 Fighter of the Year by Ring Magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America.

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STATS

Welterweight
43-1 | 31 KOs

Nickname
The Hitman

Hometown
Manchester, England

Date of Birth
October 6, 1978

Height
5′6″

At the age of 28, Ricky is a nine-year pro. The two-time IBF Jr. Welterweight world champion, and former WBA super lightweight and welterweight world champion, he has beaten defending world champions in four of his last five fights.

In his most recent fight in June, 2007, he defended the IBO Jr. Welterweight World title with a devastating 4-round stoppage against former Lightweight World Champion Jose Luis Castillo.

On January 1, Ricky was recognized by the Queen of England in the annual New Year’s honors list, and received the title MBE (Member of the British Empire). The ceremony took place at Buckingham Palace, and he will now be known as Ricky Hatton, MBE.

Ricky had a breakout year in 2005 – his accomplishments stood heads and shoulders above those of every other fighter in the world, and he was voted “Fighter of the Year’ by The Boxing Writers Association of America, and The Ring.

From TheRing-online.com, December 21, 2005: The Ring is pleased to announce that it has selected Ricky Hatton as 2005’s Fighter of the Year. Hatton is the first-ever British boxer to receive the award since its inception in 1928.

Hatton earned top honors by stopping long-reigning junior welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu at the end of the 11th round on June 4 in Manchester, England. In his second bout of the year on November 26, Hatton knocked out WBA Junior welterweight titleholder Carlos Maussa in the ninth round in Sheffield, England.

“Not only did Hatton take the title away from one of the greatest 140-pounders of all-time and make his first defense against a highly rated challenger, he did it in the sort of entertaining and definitive manner that attracts fans and fills venues,” said The Ring’s Editor-in-Chief Nigel Collins Hatton joins a long list of famous fighters to win The Ring’s Fighter of the Year award, starting with then- heavyweight champion Gene Tunney, Other past recipients include Muhammad Au (’63, ‘72, ‘74, ‘75, ‘78), Joe Louis (’36, ‘38, ‘39, ‘41), Rocky Marciano (’52, ‘54, ‘55), Ray Robinson (’42, ‘51), and Mike Tyson (’86, ‘88).

Ricky has been the biggest draw in Great Britain for several years, with a huge, fanatical following in his hometown of Manchester.

Regarding his nickname, Ricky said, “I’ve always been a fan of Tommy Hearns, and everybody associates that that’s where I got it from, but everybody’s a Tommy Hearns fan. I got the nickname the first day I walked in the gym. I was 10 years old and put a pair of gloves on and started walloping the bag, and my amateur coach said, ‘Look at him, look how evil he is. He’s a little Hitman.’”

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