05.12.07 – By Kostya Tszyu: For many of you, this coming weekend will be a special one with two big boxing events! The majority of the boxing world is looking forward to the Floyd Mayweather verus Ricky Hatton welterweight super fight in Las Vegas and this type of match is great for the entire sport.
Two undefeated world champions, the best against the best and I can say that I am very much looking forward to this fight. The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas is a great venue for boxing. I have enjoyed fighting there twice against Jake Rodriguez and Zab Judah.
Ricky Hatton has strong support and there will be many of his fans travelling across from the UK just to be there in Las Vegas, even if they can’t get a ticket for the arena. That in itself tells you what a boxing event it is..
For Ricky Hatton to win, he has to do what he did against me in our fight in Manchester. That is, putting on effective pressure. Huge, huge pressure, something that Floyd will not be able to sustain his defence against, pressure that Floyd will not be able to control.
The referee Joe Cortez will play an important role in the style of fight. If the referee allows Hatton to sustain this pressure in close by not breaking the boxers quickly, this will allow Ricky to work in close all of the time which is very much to his advantage. If this is the style of fight that is allowed, I think Ricky has a chance of wearing Floyd down completely.
Ricky Hatton is not the hardest puncher I ever fought. I don’t think he ever hurt me with one punch. It was the sheer volume of punches he throws over many rounds that does the damage. Ricky is very persistent in one direction – straight ahead, and he does this very, very well.
For Floyd Mayweather Jr to win, he will be controlling his emotions and not allow Hatton to fight Ricky’s fight. If Floyd controls the fight, something I was able to do against Ricky in the middle rounds of our match, keep his distance and fight away from Ricky’s pace, he has a very good chance of victory. Even in close, Mayweather can still control the action. Floyd has very good movements on the inside as well and he doesn’t have to fight on the outside all of the time to win. He can make Hatton miss and then counter him with his fast hands.
In June 1995, I defended my world title against Roger Mayweather, Floyd’s uncle and trainer. Roger was a very clever fighter at the age of 34, who was towards the end of his career. Floyd is using some of Roger’s tricks now, but in an even better way. Floyd is younger and he has developed the Mayweather boxing style that was taught to him by his father Floyd Sr and his uncle Roger, to even further extremes.
Floyd Mayweather Jr is the best boxer in the world pound for pound today. He has proven it over many years by not ducking anyone and winning six world titles in five weight classes. He is always ready to fight anyone and he is ready for any challenge in front of him.
I don’t have any problems with Ricky Hatton and hold nothing against him. With Floyd Mayweather Jr, I feel the same way and I respect both men.
Lets all hope we see a great fight this weekend with the best man winning on the night.
This coming Saturday December 8, 2007 at 12:00pm the Tszyu Crew will be holding ‘Crewfighter 3’ at the Tszyu Boxing Academy in Rockdale, Sydney. Sparring matches between members of the Tszyu Crew have been made in the Forum at www.KostyaTszyu.com.
The Crewfighter events are a great opportunity for Tszyu Crew from far and near to gather and meet. Our first two events have been very successful raising money for charity and I am looking forward to being there again this weekend and seeing many of you there.
At 7:30pm this Thursday night December 6, 2007 I will be appearing at the ABC Shop in Westfield Miranda shopping centre, Shop 1087/88, Level 1, Miranda, Sydney, NSW to sign copies of the new book biography ‘Something Worth Fighting For’ written by Paul Upham, and to meet the Tszyu Crew.
If you are unable to attend, you can also purchase copies of ‘Something Worth Fighting For’ and other Tszyu Crew merchandise via my on-line store at www.KostyaTszyu.com.
Remember the Tszyu Crew rules forever!
Your champion,
Kostya Tszyu