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05/14/2006 Archived Entry: "Hatton Invades U.S., Escapes With New Belt"
Hatton Invades U.S., Escapes With New Belt
By J. D. Vena at ringside
BOSTON, MA – “I feel depressed, appalled. No man could live with this ruthless mauler who tears up the rules book as viciously as he rips up any one who challenges his right to share the same ring.” That was how British boxing writer Desmond Hackett felt when England’s Don Cockell went to San Francisco to challenge then heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano in a 1955 title fight. Marciano would predictably maul Cockell in brutal fashion, some felt to be in dirty fashion but none the less, Rocky kept his title and remained an undefeated champion that night.
This time around the bitterness that surrounded that forgotten title fight had been reversed. Last night at the TD Banknorth Garden, Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton, the undisputed and undefeated jr. welterweight champion and 2005 fighter of the year, did what he did best - maul and brute his way to winning yet another world title, this time the WBA welterweight title that belonged Brooklyn’s Luis Collazo.
In typical Hatton fashion, the aggressive Hatton, 147, of Manchester, England smothered, held and hit and won enough rounds to convince Massachusetts appointed judges to award the title to Hatton at the end of 12 tough rounds. Judges Don O’Neil and Paul Driscoll had it 115-112, while Leo Gerstel had it a closer 114-113 tally. The CBZ felt that Collazo should have kept his title by a total of 116-111. Many in press row agreed that Collazo had done enough but that seeing it again would better determine what happened last night. Your writer admits that rounds 7-9 were difficult to score particularly from the number of clinches and what you could score to be effective punching. All of those rounds were awarded to Collazo on the unofficial CBZ scorecard.
What was glaringly apparent, based on the appearance of Hatton deformed face at the end of the fight was that Collazo had punished both sides of his challenger’s face. At the post-fight press conference, Hatton’s face was swollen from the crisp right hooks and left crosses he absorbed throughout the night. The constant inside work that was done had been taxing to Hatton who paid the price whenever he didn’t finish an exchange or wasn’t holding Collazo’s arms.
In the opening moments of the first round, while Collazo was trying to free himself from Hatton pushing down on his head with his right hand rand, he turned and while he tried to straighten himself up, a Hatton left hook dropped an off-balance Collazo. Some, even Hatton thought it was going to be a quick night for Hatton.
“It’s probably the worst thing that can happen,” said Hatton of the early knockdown. “You’re just trying to ease yourself in the fight and you kind of lose your way a bit.”
The knockdown made all the difference in the world for Hatton. Though Collazo wasn’t hurt, the 10-8 score for Hatton, which could have ended up being a 10-9 score for Collazo is what inevitably made the difference in the fight. Once Collazo regained his feet, Hatton tried to push for a quick stoppage by hammering the champion’s midsection and not giving him rest.
Hatton seemed to lose his way after the first three rounds when Collazo seemed to whether the storm and break into his rhythm of slipping and countering. From the 4th round on, Hatton tried to make quick strikes from the outside then clinch. Collazo was successful with countering and trading with Hatton who wasn’t a strong as many had felt he’d be at welterweight but physically strong enough to negate Collazo from doing more damage. Hatton was clearly bothered by Collazo’s cagey style and infighting ability and you could sense the frustration of both fighters when they would occasionally land some rabbit punches while grappling.
If a big 12th round would justify a winner in this battle it clearly belonged to Collazo. After a minute of infighting and grappling, Hatton absorbed a head-snapping left cross which seemed to hurt Hatton. Collazo’s follow up flurries, including a powerful right hook almost put Hatton on the canvas but Hatton’s clinching kept him upright and by the final minute of the round, his head seemed clear before there was a threat of a knockdown or stoppage.
When asked how hurt he was in the 12th, the new champion said, “It wasn’t just the 12th round, it was several times in the fight. He hits a lot harder than I thought. I still think I’m a jr. welterweight. I felt his strength. Sometimes the force of his shots would knock me from one side to the other. But I was able to smother him and stay close. He did hurt me several times and I’m man enough to admit that.”
“If he’s man enough to feel he’s the better fighter than he should fight me again,” said the dejected Collazo, now 26-2 with 12 knockouts. “Most of the time, he was holding me but when he wasn’t, I was throwing my combinations. I believe he didn’t do enough to take my title.”
Hatton improved to 41-0 with 30 knockouts and though it would seem natural to wait for the winner of Corrales-Castillo or another intriguing match-up at 140 pounds, remaining a welterweight champion may be shortlived.
“Look, I’m not a big puncher,” admitted Collazo. “I believe he should be move back down to 140 because if he gives me a rematch I will knock him out. I have never predicted a knockout in any of my fights but this time I am and I’ll go to England next time to do it.”
Hatton’s victory last night was far from a coronation. Though he is certainly a worthy champion to be regarded in the United States, beating Collazo and not surviving him would better suit him if he’s to be taken seriously as a threat to such stars as Mayweather, De La Hoya or Shane Mosley.
For now, a rematch would seem the best course for Hatton if he would like to prove his worth as a boxing superstar.
“It’s not up to Ricky,” said Collazo. “It’s up to the media. If they want to see it, then it can happen.”
When Floyd Mayweather seemed to squeak by Jose Luis Castillo in his jump to lightweight a couple of years ago, the media bullied Mayweather into following the close win with a more concise victory over Castillo. A stronger rematch win over the now well regarded Collazo would justify his status as one of boxing’s elite.
Oh how the mighty have fallen. It’s amazing what can happen in a span of two months. In March, Eric “Mighty Mouse” Aiken of Marysville, OH, had lost a six round decision to a fighter with only five fights. But a month later, a knockout win over former bantamweight champion Tim Austin would substantiate Aiken as a fill-in for an IBF featherweight title fight with Brazil’s unbeaten Valdemir Pereira.
As Collazo had made the best of his opportunity when he took the title he lost last night from Jose Rivera last year on two weeks notice, Aiken, the unheralded underdog, pulled off an improbably upset when Pereira was disqualified last night for repeated low blows. Referee Charlie Dwyer awarded Aiken the title at 1:37 of the 8th round, a round he had only appeared in once prior in 20 fights.
Aiken, 125, pressed forward and patiently looked for his openings in the opening two rounds but when he started to rip powerful hooks in the third round, the Brazilian fighter fought very respectful of his unlikely challenger. In the fourth round, Aiken had backed Pereira to the ropes. Pereira, 126, was clearly mindful of protecting his ribs when Aiken delivered a powerful left hook to the point of Pereira’s unprotected chin. Pereira fell to the canvas and was hurt when he managed to his feet. The green challenger went after Pereira’s head and was unable to finish the more experienced champion.
During some of the exchanges the now fearful Pereira began to hit Aiken below the belt line and was warned for his tactics. In the fourth round, Aiken listened to his corners’ instructions and went after the champion’s midsection in hopes of creating the same opening that floored Pereira the previous round. The opening wasn’t needed as a left hook to the body from Aiken dropped Pereira again.
Pereira again made it to his feet and would later benefit from his challenger’s inexperience. The wild swinging 6-round fighter almost got himself in trouble when he underestimated Pereira’s knack for knocking opponents senseless. Aiken absorbed tremendous head shots while Mighty Mouse carelessly tried to take the champion out with undirected shots.
In the 6th round, Pereira landed a vicious low blow which naturally bent the challenger over. Aiken was awarded extra time to recuperate and wisely took much of that time. Dwyer took a point away for the infraction and would do so again in the 7th. At this point any shot close to Aiken’s beltline would cause him to double over. In the 8th Dwyer had finally seen enough when Pereira’s body shot strayed a bit low.
“There isn’t too much you can do for low blows,” said Aiken. “Sometimes you get frustrated. My trainers Adrian Davis and Jerry Page made sure I stayed focused. (Pereira) knew he couldn’t take my power and that’s why he kept hitting me low.”
Though the crowd booed lustily over Dwyer’s decision to disqualify Pereira, now 24-1 with 16 knockouts, it was still remarkable that Aiken was able to force Pereira to fight so desperately. Despite his lack of credentials, Aiken fought with extreme confidence.
“I didn’t take much time off when I fought Tim Austin,” said Aiken. “I was in great shape. I didn’t think it was going to go the distance but I was going to win regardless.”
Aiken, now 16-4 with 12 knockouts said he would give Pereira a rematch but expressed interest in a fight with WBC counterpart Chris John most.
In other bouts, Jason “The Hammer” Lehoullier listened to ring announced Mike Williams declare his first loss only to correct himself moments later. After six rounds with Michael Melvin, 157, of Philadelphia, Lehoullier, 153, won by three scores of 60-54. Lehoullier is now 20-0 with 8 KO’s while Melvin is now 7-6-3 with 2 KO’s. “Irish” Joey McCreedy, 176, of Lowell, MA, was extended 4 rounds by Philly’s Lamont Cooper, 180 but dropped him twice and didn’t lose a round in improving to 5-0.
In an exciting opening bout, Jose “Stinger” Medina, 151, of Tilton, NH fought competitively with Ricky Hatton’s brother Mathew, 150, only lose an 8-round unanimous decision by scores of 78-74, 78-73 and 77-74. Medina had a point deducted by referee Mike Marvelle in the 4th round when Medina’s corner didn’t retrieve his mouthpiece fast enough. Medina is now a deceiving 9-7 with 3 KO’s while his vastly more experienced conqueror improved to 28-2-1 with 11 KO’s.
Promoter – Banner Promotions/ Dennis Hobson/ Don King ProductionsNetwork – HBO BoxingAttendance – 7,915
