Hatton left fuming as Harris pulls the plug

James Ducker

August 03, 2004

RICKY Hatton today branded Vivian Harris a "shameless coward" who is not fit to call himself a world champion after the American fighter pulled the plug on what would have been the biggest pay day of his career.

The Hitman had been scheduled to fight the WBA light-welterweight champion at the M.E.N. Arena in October after promoter Frank Warren agreed to meet Harris's exorbitant pay demands.

But yesterday Harris stunned the Hatton camp by announcing the bout was off, claiming he did not want to go to England to defend his title, despite being offered $750,000 by Warren to fight - $400,000 more than he received for his last defence against Oktay Urkal in Germany.

It follows weeks of cheap talk in which he dismissed WBU champion Hatton as a "big mouth" who he would knock out inside four rounds, and comes just five months after Brazilian Kelson Pinto pulled out of an arranged April showdown with the Hitman at the M.E.N. Arena.

Seething

News of Harris's decision to pull out has left the normally mild-mannered Hyde star seething and is a crushing blow to his hopes of landing a showdown with one of the division's top names before the end of the year.

Worse still is the fact that nearly all of the other world-rated boxers Hatton wants and Warren would hope to land are either suffering from injury or have other fights lined up in coming months.

"I'm absolutely devastated. I have never bad-mouthed anyone, I have never got involved in all the boxing trash talk but Vivian Harris is a coward," said Hatton.

"I've had to put up with all this rubbish from him calling me a big mouth and saying he was going to come into my own backyard and knock me out in four rounds, but what this has proved is that he has been running scared all along.

"This would have been the biggest pay day of his career. Frank was offering him $400,000 more than he got in his last defence.

Lack of confident

"If somebody offered me a $400,000 rise to fight someone I was confident I would beat in four rounds then I would snap their arm off.

"It does not take Einstein to work out that he's obviously not as confident as he's said he is. He's totally and utterly wasted our time and I'm so angry and upset. I can only come to one conclusion and that is that he's scared."

Hatton, 25, added: "I have had to put up with some unfair criticism in the last year or so from people saying I don't want to leave Manchester and that I don't want to fight the best, but this was the fight I wanted and credit to Frank for delivering it. What can we do when people aren't willing to fight me?

'I'll fight anyone, I've said it before and I'll keep on saying it. I was desperate for this fight, it would have been the most money I'd have earned.

'I was willing to take one step back to take two steps forward, but he's wrecked that and now we've got to try and find another opponent.

Holiday

'When I heard Harris had agreed to the fight a couple of weeks ago I cancelled a holiday to New York.

'Harris said he was going to shut my mouth, but what he's done is just make a fool of himself. What he's done is shameless, he's an absolute plonker and I'm gutted.'
Hatton is now praying Warren can secure another top name before the end of the year.

Sharmba Mitchell, who was due to meet Hatton earlier this year until he priced himself out of the fight, takes on undisputed champion Kosta Tszyu in November, while Paul Spadafora and Jesse James Leija are both injured.
And man-of-the-moment Gatti has only just fought Leonard Dorin, although he has expressed a desire to fight again before the end of the year.

Hatton says he will sit down with Warren in the coming days to discuss their next step.

'Credit to Frank, he's doing everything he can to try and secure this fight and I'm thankful to him for that,' he said.

'I gave him an ultimatum and he delivered. It's done a lot to restore our relationship. We'll sit down over the next few days to discuss what we're going to do next.

'I want to fight the best, I've been on a hiding to nothing in my last couple of fights and want to avoid that again. It's just about finding the right fighter now.'

Warren said: 'After Pinto pulling out earlier this year, yet another fighter has pulled out of fighting Ricky.

'We have done everything in our power to make this fight happen which everyone has seen.'

Where does Hatton go from here? Have your say.

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ian keogh, canada (03/08/2004 at 15:42)

since when are leija and spadafora injured? ricky has to fight in the states, vivian harris would beat him anyway, i don't know about four rounds, but i liked harris

Joshuwa J., Houston, Texas (United States) (03/08/2004 at 15:43)

It is indeed disheartening to see Harris pulling out of this mega event. The purse guaranteed to Harris was very good. Maybe the actual "champion" felt it was slap in the face to make less than the challenger, regardless of the ridiculous jargon he's spewed across the pond. Let's see if Ricky wants to go to a purse bid. Yeah, right. lol

But, I give Frankie and Ricky much respect for trying to get a Harris fight. Luckily, Ricky doesn't need Harris to make a big fight. So, in conclusion I will list a group of Super Lightweights suitable to achieve world class status, because Ricky wants to be respected as a world class fighter.

1. Sharmba Mitchell (Pay him, he's a two time 140lb champion (WBA, IBF) and currently IBF's champion. Humble yourself Ricky, you haven't reach his level yet and you should pay him what he's worth. Stop playing the numbers game and fight, because that is what you do for a living. If he beats Tszyu then he's easily worth a million dollar purse to fight you.)
2. Judah (I guarantee you if pay Judah $750,000 he will come back down to 140, maybe Ricky can be on the Trinidad vs Mayorga undercard agaisnt Judah? Doubt it.)
3. Lovemore Ndou
4. Floyd Mayweather (but it will cost you a lot more than $750,000, especially since he's made virtually 3 million a fight for the last 4 years or so.
5. Of course, there is Cotto etc etc but he's locked into another fight.
6. Perhaps the easiest fight to be made in against your very own Junior "The Hitter" Witter. You can't possibly want to be taken seriously when you haven't dealt with a rival opposition right there in the UK. Fight Witter.

PS. Even though Ricky is a name in Britain, that means jacksh!t in the US unless you have solid accolades to go with it and the WBu belt means fukc all in the world of boxing. Maybe Ricky should humble himself and give the actual "champion" the lion's share of the purse considering the fact that Ricky has yet to face a legit 140lb fighter, instead of these blown up jr. lightweights and lightweights. And yes, that includes Spadafora. Believe me, the boxing purists over here could give a damn if Hatton fought Spadafora. Everybody knows Spadafora is garbage. Ricky still wouldn't get the credit he so desires. So, in actuality, Ricky just might need Harris in that regard. Just food for thought. :-)

Asher Blocker, Myrtle Beach, S.C. (03/08/2004 at 16:27)

Harris is overated as a fighter. I knew that the confidence he had coming into to signing for the fight was a little odd. He should be thrashed by the boxing media for wasting everyone's time and going back on his word. Ricky would have mauled him anyway.

Kemet, Atlanta, Ga., USA (03/08/2004 at 17:02)

I'm a Ricky Hatton fan, and am upset and embarrased by V. Harris and what he's done. Believe me, over here these two coudn't fill a high school gym because Harris is beneath the marquee. But I'm sure Floyd Mayweather would gladly fill in for Vivan, and not only that, he would generate tons more money for both. Not to mention being the best fighter In the world In my opinion, a true fighting champion who ducks no one.

As a US based Hatton fan I wouldn't REALLY want to see Ricky be outclassed in front of his fans by the brilliant yet, 'in your face', thuggish lil Floyd. But rest assured Ricky and Warren know to keeo Englands finest away from the worlds very best.

Brian Beam, Bloomington, IL USA (03/08/2004 at 18:57)

I don't know what the big deal is. So Harris changed his mind. I would too if all I heard about was Ricky this and Ricky that. He's a solid fighter; maybe he would beat Harris, but I don't think he's the next Roberto Duran. And what's with all of the fights in Manchester. Go somewhere else and fight already. I can't blame Hatton and Warren for their marketing strategy; they're making a lot of money and have some leverage in negotiations. Unfortunately though, that does not engratiate them with boxing purists. I have to give the British credit though, they back their man and he's benefitted immensely from it. He's gotten a lot of attention, but he hasn't fought anyone of note (all light hitters or old men). Show the champ some respect and fight at a neutral site. Or just fight in the US where the fickle fans may root for anybody.

CT3, Boston, Ma (03/08/2004 at 22:06)

Hatton is vastly overrated and Frank Warren is protecting his cash cow.

Hatton's people are offering a second rate deal to Harris, just like Ricky has fought only second rate opponents and has won a second rate belt.

You mention Harris' purse but not Hatton's. Why? Hatton stands to make over a million dollars PLUS a portion of the gate and sales from the telecast. Yet, they offer Harris, who is the CHAMPION far less.

Hatton and Warren aren't hungry at all, they are wealthy and comfortable - hand picking opponents, selling out arenas against third class fighters and all of a sudden they think they can dictate to others, even world champions like Harris.

Greed is keeping them from delivering real superfights and at this rate Hatton will never fight a real fighter because only class C fighters will except the kind of deals they offer.

British boxing fans deserve better.

Mike, California USA (03/08/2004 at 23:22)

I am a Hatton fan and he was right in calling Harris a coward. Ricky should fight Zab Judah who is a real big mouth and just came off a loss to Corey Spinks. Zab can come down in weight and try to redeem himself. Hope this happens and Hatton finally makes it out here in the States or fights a bigger American name.

KEVIN C SMITH, HOLLYWOOD CALIFORNIA (04/08/2004 at 04:20)

NOWHERE DOES IT STATE
THAT RICKY HATTON WAS
TO BE PAID OVER A MILLION DOLLARS, PLUS
SKY-TV & GATE MONEY.
WHILE THE CHAMPION HAS
TO TAKE $750,000 WITH
NO EXTRA.

IF RICKY HATTON HAS ANY BALLS HE'LL FIGHT
FOR AN EVEN PURSE AND
LET GO OF WARREN'S APRON.

HE WON'T EVEN FIGHT
JUNIOR WITTER

lowrider, Australia (04/08/2004 at 06:02)

I have to agree with Harris. Harris has the belt, he's giving away hometown advantage and he's being offered far less than half the purse.

Dean Scimia, London (04/08/2004 at 10:46)

I read on Vivian Harris's website that he turned the fight down because Hatton is allegedly getting $1m + to fight and Harris is only getting $750,000. As the champion he believes he should get more money than Hatton, the challenger. If this is to believed then it looks like Hatton and his promoter Frank Warren have priced themselves out of the showdown. I personnely don't like all the back and forth slagging off but if what Harris has said is true, then you only have Ricky and Frank to blame.

Dean Scimia, London, England (04/08/2004 at 10:52)

If what Harris has said is true then I can see why he pulled out of the fight. As the champion he should be getting more money than Hatton. If Hatton really wants to make the fight he should let Harris take more of the money. If he wins he's then got a much better chance of getting the big fights in America. Which inturn giev him a far broader apeal across the pond and he can then be put on pay per view and earn even more money. By taking more money than the champion he is undermining Harris. Harris was right to pull out.

Russel Ellis, rochester,ny (04/08/2004 at 16:21)

You are full of it Mr. Hatton you failed to inform your english fan base that your where going to make 1 million when the champ only makes 750,000 which isn't the way things work he would have been a fool if he accepted that offer not only he is making less he is coming to your home to potentially get robbed and doudt act like that can't happen so you should be more truthful about what really went done instead of calling someone a coward when this is about business not pride

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