Mayweather-Hatton possibly at Staples Center?

Hatton too big for Vegas!
Stuart Brennan
15/ 8/2007

HUGE demand for tickets for Ricky Hatton's December showdown with Floyd Mayweather may force a rethink on the venue.

Since the welterweight fight was announced last month, it has been widely reported that it will be held at the MGM Grand hotel and casino in Las Vegas.

But a host of offers from other arenas, including a strong bid from the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, have given US outfit Golden Boy Promotions food for thought.

And with the Hatton family's own Punch Promotions company talking of unprecedented demand for tickets, there is a fear that the 17,000-capacity Garden Arena at the MGM Grand may not be big enough.

It is being estimated that as many as 10,000 British fight fans will make the trek to cheer Hatton on, beating the record exodus to watch an individual British sportsman, set by the Hitman's June clash with Jose Luis Castillo, which attracted more than 9,000 Brits.

That could result in a postal ballot for tickets, if demand outstrips supply, and Punch Promotions has already set up a booking system which will give priority to fans who have travelled to previous Hatton fights in the States.

Problem

Hatton's camp say they are as much in the dark as the public regarding the venue, but an announcement is expected in the next few days.

Ricky's dad and adviser Ray Hatton said: "The problem is that the British fans have frightened them.

"We told the American promoters ahead of the Castillo fight that they could expect between 6,000 and 8,000 British fans, and they just had little smiles on their faces, not believing it. When nearly 10,000 turned up, they were a bit shocked, to say the least.

"I would say Vegas is still the favourite, but the Staples Center holds more than 20,000. We have told them the Americans that we want at least 10,000 tickets because it has been pandemonium at our ticket office, even though we don't yet know ticket arrangements."

Demand is expected to grow when Hatton flies to the States on September 14 for a publicity tour along with five-weight world champion Mayweather, taking in New York, Mayweather's home state of Michigan, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

The two fighters will travel to the UK for "public press conferences" in London and Manchester, at which Hatton, Mayweather and promoter Oscar de la Hoya, himself a boxing legend, will appear. Punch Promotions events co-ordinator Michael Meadowcroft believes that up to 5,000 British fans may already have booked flights and accommodation in Vegas, a five-hour drive away from LA, if the Staples Centre's bid is successful.

He stresses that websites offering tickets are acting unscrupulously as no venue or ticketing has yet been announced.

 

Good! Now they wont be wearing those bullshit 10 oz gloves!

10,000 Brits will be going home sad on Dec 8th.

 

:crafty: Uh-ohhhhhh,..."Sore hands"..

 

it will be at mgm

 

I got to think the casino money will be far too great for an arena to match although I would not cry at all if it were at Staples

 

This fight may rival Cotto-Mosley for sheer action and brutality.

 

... or Floyd-DLH for the greatest gap between pre-fight hype and what actually occurs in the ring

 

agREED.

I'm counting on another Floyd induced foxtrot.

 

You would too Notorious E.A.N.E.R.

You'd miss your fav $2.00 hooker in Vegas.

 

The brutality of seeing Ricky pot shotted to death.

 

And the blisters on Floyd's feet from running all night.

 

Jesus Christ, your acting as if Floyd has been a runner his whole career. I actually think he's gonna stand and fight with Hatton, and bust him up. Everyone will be shocked when Floyd FIGHTS Hatton, and kicks his ass.

 

You Roy Jones Traitor! Benedict X!!!

I can take shots at Floyd if I want to! Hell, Floyd will have to run otherwise Ricky will smother him with Man-love all night long.

 

I think after his recent posts, you should attack Sly more on being an RJ sellout than me.

And for the record, I like Roy WAY more than Floyd. And in Roy's prime I think he was better than Floyd.

 

:: ::

 

Nah...Mayweather is genuinely PISSED at Hatton for all of the insults the pasty David Leeder lookalike directed at him over HBO. Floyd has malice in his heart going into this one and he knows, after rocking DLH a couple of times that he has the power at these higher wieght to knock these guys out. He's not content on winning a decision.

Hatton is going to get fucked up after quite a brutal scrap.

 

I'll deal with Sly, don't worry about that.

To FURTHER prove your disloyalty...there's no DOUBT a prime Roy was better than Floyd.

Benedict X!!!!

 

Are you saying that Ricky is gonna bring out Floyd's alter ego, FM?::

 

You think he's more pissed at Hatton than he was DLH when Oscar's wife mocked him and Fiddy?

 

Actually that would favour Ricky imho. He´s used to the 8 oz glves and has the more physical style. Against Collazo he looked like crap. I bet Floyd could slap out his 200 punches per fight with 28 oz gloves, but for Ricky, who relies on quickness and volume, it would be better.

Sincerely Double L´s brother

 

Oh Oh, not the alter ego. :laughing: :laughing:

 

Floyd's alter ego is actually named BST. Blood, sweat, and tears.

 

Floyd was never going to try to KO De La Hoya, because of Oscar's size, known chin and punching power. Leeder's twin, however, is a different matter.

 

Hatton ain't Gatti.

If he didn't go after Baldomir, I doubt he'll get into a scrap with Ricky.

Besides, if Floyd is REALLY on "Dancing with the Stars" and progresses week to week, it'll be interesting to see how the dancing affects his legs.

After all, he'll be a few months shy of 31 by the time the fight happens.

 

Am I wrong in saying that Roy's performance in the third Tarver fight was DISGRACEFUL!!

I still maintain that Roy in his prime was THE most talented fighter who ever lived.

"However"

In Tarver 3...he fought like a man...how would Farrakhan put it...lacking in testicular fortitude!

 

floyd couldnt ko baldimor, he got like a dump truck ,why chase a ko on a jaw like that? little ricky doesnt

 

i forget which episode it was, but Milli Vanilli rode in on a Segway to deliver Oscar his lunch (or dinner), mocking how 50 rolled up in Floyd's crib on the first episode

 

Sly,

Your termination papers are in the mail. Effective immediately, REED is the President and CEO of PlanetRoy.com.

As you were...