16.01.07 – By Ricky Hatton: One week before the fight and training couldn’t have gone any better. Saturday finished my usual grueling 15 rounds on the body belt, so this hard slog is now done. One more week now to wind down and then its just getting in there to do the job and hopefully bring back to Britain world title belts five and six, the IBF and IBO. Just one or two rumours I need to squash before I go into action on Saturday..
It has been rumoured that I have had elbow injuries and have missed several sparring sessions. It is true I that have been having work on my elbows, but not due to injury. They have been getting manipulated to straighten them through years of boxing, which has left my arms slightly shorter than normal.
Billy and I were happy with what we have gotten from the sparring we had done and were satisfied; we did not see a reason for anymore sessions. Ricky Hatton will be 100% in shape and come January 20, I hope to do the country proud again.
One more note; I see that my old mate Junior Witter is up to his old tricks again, trying to get publicity for himself off Ricky Hatton’s back.
I can’t say I am surprised, although to his credit he has won a world title. Junior has spent his career getting publicity off my back and all of a sudden, because he won a world title, he thinks he’s the man and I need him more than ever.
I have vacated three times as many belts as junior has won, won world titles in two weight divisions, won The Ring Magazine belt, became the first British fighter ever to win The Ring Fighter of the Year award and in the same year, was voted by the Boxing Writers Association of America as their Fighter of the Year.
Come January 20, I will have topped the bill in the USA in both Boston and the fighting capital of the world, Las Vegas. But strangely enough, Junior still thinks HE’S the man and I still need him more than ever. Somehow, I don’t think so. Do you?
He also mentioned that he thinks I am on the slide due to injuries and lifestyle. I just wish to point out my and Junior’s last three fights;
Witter’s last three fights:
Defeated DeMarcus Corley 12 round points decision WBC World Light Welterweight Championship.
Defeated Colin Lynes 12 round points decision European Light Welterweight Championship.
Defeated Andreas Kotelnik 12 round points decision European Light Welterweight Championship.
My last three fights:
Defeated Luis Collazo 12 round points decision WBA World Welterweights Championship.
Defeated Carlos Maussa KO9 WBA World Light Welterweight Championship.
Defeated Kostya Tszyu TKO11 rounds IBF Light Welterweight Championship.
Compare the two records and on recent form and with Junior’s age at 33 years old, it looks to me that if anybody is on the slide, it’s Junior.
It looks to me that Junior needs to get a move on and up his performances, not me. I give Junior credit for capping off a great career by winning his world title, but he needs to realise that he is so far off my radar, it is unreal.
I wish Junior well in his first title defence and on fighting on the same night as me, I hope AGAIN I have helped in raising Junior’s profile.
Hopefully Junior and I can defend our world titles and make it a huge night for British boxing.
Ricky Hatton