Hatton steps up in weight; will it limit his greatest assets?

23.03.06 – By Harry Hawkins: Undisputed British Light-Welterweight Champion Ricky Hatton has signed to move up a weight and face American Welterweight Luis Collazo for the WBA belt in Boston on 13 May.

This is an interesting move from the Manchester based fighter, as the force used to demolish opponents at light-welter has been Hatton’s sublime power when delivering crushing body-shots.

Will the step-up from the 140lb division hamper Hatton’s strength? Certainly he will be amongst fighters that may be more used to the kind of blows that the Englishman throws up, and Hatton’s own trainer, Billy Graham, had preferred to avoid a bout against Collazo.

But Hatton fears no fighter, and his attempt to become a two-weight champion is something that maybe the British man hopes will bring about a super-fight with Pretty Boy Floyd Mayweather, who is due to step into the ring and face Zab Judah for the IBF title on 8 April.

Mayweather and Hatton are not alone in their recent advancement in weight and the records show that many a great fighter has been successful when piling on a few pounds. Oscar De La Hoya, James Toney and Roy Jones Jnr have all been multi-weight champions of recent times, and although these boxing icons are now in the twilight of their careers, they showed that a change in weight can prove you’re great.

Super-Featherweight supremos Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales are stepping up to Lightweight and Welshman Joe Calzaghe seems to be seeking more glory at Light-Heavy.

As the pound-for-pound rankings go, Hatton and Mayweather are at the top and the two men are sure to meet at some point in the coming years. Yet Mayweather’s decision to face Judah at 147lbs seems to have given Hatton a flashing ‘come and get me’ light, to which the Hitman just cannot resist.

It will be interesting to see what will happen after the Collazo fight for Hatton, with the possibility of Castillo and Corales heating up their rivalry at light-welter, the division could prove to be the most exciting of the bunch.

Miguel Cotto remains another option for Hatton, with the Puerto Rican holding the WBO belt. So after Mayweather beats Judah (for I’m sure that must be the only possibility), the potential for fan-favourite bouts must surely be back at light-welter, where Hatton, Cotto, Corrales, or Castillo could provide for an amazing series of bouts.