Remember that impression Rios did of Freddy Roach? Well lets just say Rios is much better at it by the time Tszyu is through with him.
This may very well be the post of the year. This fight wouldn't be remotely competitive. Rios isn't as good as being advertised, not even at lightweight, never mind 5 lb. north.
No Soy Digno, No Soy Digno {is what I am saying to you on post of the year thing and what Rios would be saying to Tszyu by the end of their "fight"}
And no, it's nothing to do with hating Tszyu or anything. It's simply that he's not very good. He's average world champion material and nothing more. He's not an elite fighter, and he's never beaten an elite fighter. Nice KO over Zab and that's it. Tszyu absolutely wilted and got battered by Cool Vince, then got ground down and quit against Hatton. I confidently pick Rios. Rios's chin isn't bad enough to get KO'd easily, and he'd smother Tszyu, grind him down and make him quit, a bit like Hatton did really. Tszyu is one of the 3 most overrated fighters of the modern era alongside Trinidad and Hamed.
I was crackin up for about 2 mins after reading this............. then I realized you were being serious.
I agree that Tszyu and Tito are both immensely overrated. But overrated or not, Tszyu was world class and a champ. Rios has done nothing to warrant picking him over Tszyu, not yet.
Tszyu and Tito were immensely overrated when they were AROUND. But nowadays.... its the complete opposite. And I was a detractor of BOTH. Bottom line.... Rios doesnt have a prayer against a prime Tszyu. I dont even think Bam Bam would beat the Tszyu that lost to Hatton. For ONE... he doesnt posses one of the biggest attributes that troubled Tszyu with Hatton.... FOOT SPEED. Ricky was able to close distance quicker than Rios could ever dream to. Tszyu would have alot more time to set up against Rios, as opposed to Hatton. Second of all... Rios isnt as physically strong as Hatton either. He wouldnt be able to muscle Tszyu around in the same way, and DAMN sure wouldnt be able to bend the rules as Ricky did. Fuck it lets be honest.... Rios is inferior to a prime Hatton in EVERY way possible except for head shot power(Hatton hit harder to the body). I'm a Rios FAN.... but c'mon... just peep the first 4 rounds of the Acosta fight. Bam Bam lasts 6 rounds TOPS with the Tszyu that beat up MAG.
Tszyu would have won the Hatton fight in any other city. The crazy crowd + homer ref willed Hatton to victory over a vastly surperior opponent.
I always said it was foolish in the extreme for KT to go to RHs backyard to fight on his terms. Courageous yes but foolish all the same.
Complete and utter bullshit. You hold that fight anywhere, Hatton wins. Just like Ward against Kessler, no different. Vastly superior? :: I like you SD but that has to be the dumbest thing you've ever said. Um, no, Hatton was the better fighter and proved it head to head, plus in his whole career, only losing to the top 2 P4P fighters in the world. Hatton beat the shit out of Tszyu and made him quit. It takes more than willpower and a hometown crowd to do that. Hatton was the faster, stronger, more athletic, more determined man, and won convincingly. Tszyu is an average fighter at world level and nothing more. Admittedly he had a very nice right hand. Sharp and accurate, with decent power, like the one that got Zab. But that's about it. He had no adaptability, no versatility, no heart, no real cleverness or craft. Just a dull, robotic Euro style fighter with a nice right hand. Hatton is clearly the better of the two.
The most foolish (and insanely stubborn) part was his outright refusal to adjust his body clock to adapt to the 2AM start time. In a rare moment where I got one right, I based my pick in part on that, but also believing it was Ricky's time. Still that fight has nothing to do with this, since that wasn't even close to prime Tszyu. Rios would have to find a way to turn this into a war, and I don't see Tszyu getting dragged into that. Not to mention that we've yet to see what Rios is capable of at 140. Can't see any rational thinking for picking against Tszyu, not while the book is still out on Rios.
We saw Acosta back up Bam Bam and beat his ass for a round. I shutter to think what happens when a few Tszyu right hands hurt Rios and force him to move back.
The rational thinking is that Tszyu is an overrated, gutless swine, and that although unproven at 140, Rios is fucking big at 135. A solid 5'9, not exactly scrawny. Not only that but he had a gutcheck the other day and passed with flying colours. More than can be said about Tszyu. Rios would be too much man for Tszyu, the same reason I was 100% sure Chico would beat Freitas. Rios isn't as good as Hatton, but he'd beat Tszyu in similar fashion.
I shudder with glee to think what happens when Rios gets a bit hurt, but fights through it, keeps coming, and Tszyu starts to fold and get bashed up like he did against Cool Vince.
Cool Vince was bigger than Bam Bam, and had a bigger right hand. Hell I'd pick a prime Philips to knock the shit outta Rios. When Rios gets hurt against Tszyu.... he stays hurt. Like I said.... Bam Bam is too slow in closing the distance to have a chance here. Tszyu would stuff the jab in his face, and Bam Bam would be walking into right hands, and uppercuts galore. Getting hurt against Miguel Acosta is a WHOLE DIFFERENT BALL GAME than getting hurt against Kostya Tszyu.
Too slow in closing the distance? We're talking about Tszyu. He is slow, methodical, and robotic. Acosta is much faster of foot and more agile. Rios closed the distance fine on him. Tszyu would be much easier to find. And Vince is not bigger than Rios. Vince is like 5'7 or so and average build. Rios is 5'9 and not exactly skinny. The guy is a BIG lightweight.
Hatton proved to be better in just about every way. Heart? Better. Footspeed? Better. Handspeed? Better. Determination? Better. Workrate? Better. Toughness? Better. Inside fighting? Better. Body punching? Better. Stamina? Better. Tszyu is better at landing counter right hands, quitting, and being overrated. That's it. In every other area, Hatton is better.
How is it blind hatred? Everything I'm saying is true. I don't even hate Tszyu particularly. I hate how overrated he is. Notice, not once have I called Tszyu a scrub, a bum etc. Where's the hate? I'm simply telling things straight. Was Tszyu world class? Yep, absolutely. Was he an elite fighter? No. Was he average at world level? Yes.
