May 13, 2006: WBA welterweight champion Luis Collazo (26-1, 12 KOs) vs. Ricky Hatton (40-0, 30 KOs), 12 rounds, welterweights. At the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (HBO)
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Last week the boxing world was treated to a dazzling performance by Oscar De La Hoya and now, American fans will get to see England's own Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton up close. Hatton, the IBF and WBA junior welterweight champion, moves up in weight to challenge WBA welterweight champion Luis Collazo for the first fight of Hatton's mega-contract with HBO.
Hatton, who takes his perfect record into the bout, was named by Ring Magazine the 2005 Fighter of the Year. It's his first fight away from England since his last trip to the United States, a June 2000 victory over Gilbert Quiros. Although Hatton is the challenger, he's not only the favored fighter, but also the more popular and hyped.
The tough Brit made a name for himself when he upset world champion Kostya Tszyu in June 2005. Hatton showed his relentless attacking style and his rock-hard fists when he beat Tszyu's face into a pulp, forcing Tszyu's corner to throw in the towel after the eleventh round, giving Hatton the IBF junior welterweight belt. Hatton followed up with a ninth-round knockout of Carlos Maussa in November to add the WBA super lightweight and vault himself into almost every pound-for-pound top ten list. Hatton currently ranks 4th on Blog and Weave's Pound-for-Pound Top Ten.
Hatton puts it all on the line when he moves up to 147-pounds for the first time in his nine-year career. The man standing in the opposite corner is no slouch and will be an immediate test for Hatton.
The Brooklyn-born Luis Collazo is trying to forge his own legacy, so he was eager to take on Hatton when the opportunity rang. Collazo, a southpaw, has an impressive record in his own right, but he lacks the quality opponents Hatton has taken on. That said, Collazo's last two fight have been against his toughest competition. In April 2005, Collazo pulled off a huge upset when he won by a controversial split decision over Jose Antonio Rivera, capturing the WBA welterweight title. Collazo, in his first title defense, won by technical knockout in the eighth round over former champion Miguel Angel Gonzalez in August. Collazo rocked Gonzalez several times with combinations to the head and heavy attacks to the body, causing Gonzalez's corner to end the fight between the seventh and eighth round.
Hatton is the more heralded fighter and easily the stronger puncher, but Collazo has an advantage being a southpaw. Hatton was knocked down — the first time in his professional career — by Eamonn Magee, another southpaw, in 2002. In addition to being lefty, Collazo is accurate, athletic, two inches taller and has an edge in reach, and has fought as high as 155 pounds — all factors that could help him score the upset. Collazo will need to stay active and present match-up problems to Hatton in order to win the fight. Hatton has a very good chin, but he's been tagged with the label of "bleeder," so a big cut or an incidental head butt — which could very well happen when it's orthodox vs. southpaw — to Hatton ought to favor Collazo.
For Hatton, he's the harder puncher, but he's never been one to end a fight early, instead he tends to wear out his opponents before putting them away late. Hatton is more of a slugger than a boxer, but he has the skills to hang with the technically sound Collazo. In facing a bigger opponent, Hatton needs to use his left hook and favorite it to Collazo's body, along with mixing some combinations to the chin of Collazo.
I'm a huge fan of Hatton because of not only his skill, but his heart and courage he constantly displays in the ring. That said, too many factors (Collazo's size, Collazo being southpaw, Hatton moving up in class) have me worried. I hope Hatton wins, because I believe a future fight against Oscar De La Hoya or even Floyd Mayweather Jr. is down the round. Unfortunately, I like Collazo's chances at an upset. Collazo's will be able to withstand Hatton's heavy body attack and stay outside, using his speed and size to his advantage.
Prediction: Collazo by split decision.
