Can Hatton Beat Tzyu?
By Tom Donelson

INSIDE BOXING (May 24, 2005) -Can Ricky Hatton beat Kotysa Tzyu? Yes. On paper this is Tzyu fight to lose. Tzyu is a methodical killing machine. He is a like a cobra, with his sneaky right hand ready to strike. This right hand paralyzes his opponent and sends them down.

When Jab Judah fought Tzyu, he won the first five minutes of their fight but once he tasted Tzyu power and right hand, it was over. On paper, this is another Tzyu victory. Hatton will be in front of Tzyu, so it is not as if Tzyu has to go looking for Hatton. Hatton will be in range of the deadly Tzyu right.

Here is what working against Tzyu. Kotysa Tzyu has only fought three rounds in two years and no matter how impressive he looked against Mitchell, the fact still remains- Tzyu has not been an old fashion war in years. And we don’t know what will happen if Tzyu actually fights a long fight, something he has not done for long time. Plus he is 35 years old.

Hatton is a plugger and the first real question is whether he can take Tzyu right since the Tzyu will eventually land the right early in the fight. If Hatton survives, then this turns into a fight.

Hatton throws a lot of punches and wears his opponents out. He goes to the body and the head. So he will be letting loose with punches at Tzyu. His goal is to wear out the older fighter. Hatton does not have the same knock out power as Tzyu but his ability to inflict punishment upon his opponent is his secret.

The key to Ricky Hatton beating Tzyu is surviving the early rounds. Do that and Hatton has a great chance to win. If not, then it is another easy Tzyu victory. Tzyu is an accurate puncher and while Hatton defense is underrated, he is still vulnerable to being hit. And Hatton has yet to fight a fighter as good as Tzyu.

This is a battle between a young and aggressive battler vs. an older puncher. The veteran has the great equalizer but unless Tzyu hurts Hatton early, then youth may yet prevail.