by Bob Canobbio

Ricky Hatton, (42-0, 30 Kos), a three-time champ, an 8-5 favorite over two-time lightweight champ Jose Luis Castillo, (55-7-1, 47 KOs).

Hatton relinquished the 140-lb title he won from Juan Urango in January. Against Urango, Hatton landed 34% of his 63 total punches thrown per round (52 of which were power shots), but did more clinching than fighting after Urango landed a series of body shots in round five.

He averaged just 49 total punches thrown per round over the last four frames after getting off  85 in round one, 77 in round three and 75 in the fourth.  Oddly, the defending champion Urango landed an average of just 10 of 35 power shots over the last seven rounds after peppering Hatton with 23 of 52 power punches in the fifth. 

The scoring was wide (119-109 3x), the performance was lackluster.

Eight months earlier, Hatton’s move to welterweight for a challenge of the light-hitting Luis Collazo’s belt nearly turned disasterous in round twelve.  Hatton, out on his feet in that last round, survived, averaging 62 punches thrown per round for the fight, 53 of which were power shots.  He landed 35% overall and 40% of his power shots. 

Collazo landed 30% overall and 35% of his power shots.  Hatton had a 259-213 edge in total connects.  By comparison, Collazo landed just 87 total punches over 12 rounds in his decision loss to Shane Mosley last February.  Collazo landed just 14% of his total punches vs. Sugar Shane, who landed 46% of his power shots.

Hatton’s biggest win to date came on 6/4/05, when he stopped 140-lb. champ Kosta Tszyu in the eleventh round.  Hatton pressured Tszyu all night, throwing 49 power shots per round among his 59 total punches thrown per round, landing 32%.  The 35-yr.-old Tszyu, who hadn’t lost in five years, also landed 32% of his 56 total punches thrown per round, never hurting Hatton.

Tszyu has not fought since the Hatton loss.  Hatton was ahead on all three scorecards (105-104; 106-103 & 107-102) through eleven.

In Hatton’s first defense five months after the Tszyu upset, he survived cuts over both eyes and stopped the awkward Carlos Maussa in round nine.  Hatton, who threw 41 power shots among his 55 punches per round, landing 35%, dropped Maussa with a left hook to end the fight.  Maussa was ko’d in eight rounds by Miguel Cotto in December of ’03.

Castillo last fought on the Hatton-Urango undercard, and like Hatton, he too was not impressive.  Castillo landed 36% of his 57 total punches thrown per round (44 of which were power shots) enroute to a split decision win over the previously undefeated (15-0) and unknown Herman Ngoudjo.  Castillo rallied to outland Ngoudjo 98-55 in total punches over the last five rounds.  He won four of those five rounds on two judges cards to pull out the win. 

Castillo had a 245-208 edge in total connects, with Ngoudjo throwing 100 more total punches.  Castillo also had a 212-158 edge in power connects, throwing 55 more power punches and landing 40% to Ngoudjo’s 33%.  The scoring went: 115-113 Castillo 2x and 115-113 Ngoudjo. 


Who can forget Castillo’s 5/7/05 war with the now deceased Diego Corrales?  They combined to land 802 total punches - 727 of which were power shots IN LESS THAN 10 ROUNDS!!!  That’s 73 combined power shots landed per round, 21 more than the junior welterweight average.  Castillo landed 400 of 710 (56%) total punches, Corrales 402 of 761 (53%).  Castillo went 355 of 593 (60%) in power shots, Corrales 372 of 680 (55%).  They combined to land 93 power shots in round six (Gatti & Ward combined to land 102 in the 9th round of their first fight) and 92 power shots in round two.  They combined to land 70 or more power shots in all nine completed rounds. 

Corrales was down twice in the tenth, spitting out his mouthpiece each time.  As Castillo moved in to finish off Chico, he walked into a left hook and was stopped along the ropes at 2:06 of the tenth.  Scoring through 9: 87-84 Castillo; 87-84 Corrales & 86-85 Corrales.  Corrales lost a point (and gained valuable recovery time) after spitting out mouthpiece the second time.

Five months later, Castillo disgraced himself by failing to make the 140-lb limit by 3 ½ pounds for the rematch with Corrales.  A Castillo cornerman was fined and suspended for tampering with the scale as Castillo attempted to make weight.  As for the fight, they traded bombs over four rounds with Castillo landing a smashing left hook that ended matters at :47 of the fourth. 

Castillo to this day has given Floyd Mayweather his toughest fight as a pro.  On 4/20/02, the 5-1 ‘dog Castillo outlanded Floyd 203-157 in total punches, including 173-66 in power shots.  After Mayweather won the first four rounds, Castillo outlanded him in each of the remaining eight rounds.  

Castillo averaged 42 total punches thrown per round, 31 of which were power shots.  He landed 40% overall and 46% of his power punches, many to the body of Floyd, who averaged just 37 total punches thrown per round.  The 203 total punches landed by Castillo vs. Mayweather are the most landed by an opponent in 27 Mayweather fights tracked by CompuBox.

Castillo promised to be busier in the rematch - and he was, throwing eight more punches per round, but landing 66 less over twelve rounds, as Mayweather was less available to be hit the second time around.   Mayweather had a 162-137 edge in total connects and went home with a unanimous decision win.  Castillo landed just 24% of his power shots, 22% less than their first fight.

This one comes down to who’s got more left in the tank.  Will Castillo, 33, who began his career 17 years ago as a featherweight, finally show the effects of making 140 lbs yet another time?  Will he even make the weight?  Castillo’s fought 63 fights and has been ko’d in five of his seven losses.

Hatton’s only 28, but he’s fought 42 fights, all at 140 lbs or higher. His in-your-face style and out-of the-ring lifestyle (he often balloons as high as 180 lbs between fights) may have caught up with him as evidenced in his performances vs. Collazo and Urango. 

They both average around 55-60 punches thrown per round, with the majority being power shots (non-jabs).  That’s means the fight’s going to be won or lost in the trenches.  Who’s the better puncher?  Who takes the better shot?  Hatton was bothered by Urango’s sporadic body attack, especially in round five and has was cut in his wins over Maussa (both eyes), Vince Phillips (right eye), Eamonn Magee (right eye, also suffered only knockdown of career) and Gilbert Quiros ( under left eye).   Who, besides Chavez Sr., has had a better left hook to the body than Castillo over the years? 

Were both Hatton & Castillo looking past their January opponents?  Hatton can box when needed, Castillo cannot.  Hatton will have to mix in the jab and use the ring and avoid a firefight with Castillo. 

Hatton does enough to impress the judges and win by controversial split decision.