While the boxing world awaits this Saturday’s anticpated fights so noteworthy news has been announced. Allow me to share… Ricky Hatton signs with Golden Boy This news probably warrants its own post but until the details are released I will just share the announcement. It really comes as no major surprise to industry insiders as Hatton and De La Hoya seemed to have a warm mutual admiration for each other and rumor was for the two to meet in the ring had Hatton beaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. this past December. Hatton had expressed his pleasure with Golden Boy who promoted the afore mentioned bout and after exploring some other offers settled on GBP who have agreed to partner up with Hatton’s own promotional firm Punch Promotions. The deal is strikingly similar to the promotional pact between Top Rank and Manny Pacquaio’s Manny Promotions. “I’m pleased to be working with Golden Boy Promotions and I know that each one of my fights will be bigger than the last, not only for me, but for all of my loyal fans,” Hatton is quoted in a released statement. “I got a taste of working with Oscar and his team with my fight with Floyd Mayweather and they’re a world-class company.” In more Hatton news, the Manchester pug’s return to the ring appears to be scheduled for May 24th in Manchester, England. Word is that Texas slugger and Golden Boy stablemate Juan Lazcano is being tabbed as the likely opponent. Castillo looses to the battle of the bulge yet again By now you have probably heard that the WBC jr. welterweight title eliminator between Jose Luis Castillo and Timothy Bradley has been canceled as a result of Castillo’s failure to make the 14 pound limit. Yesterday during an informal weigh-in Castillo was reported to have weighed 147 pounds, meaning he would have to shed 7 pound in the course of one day. Two hours before the official weigh-in Castillo weighed in at 144 lbs and at that time the fight was called off. Castillo reportedly packed up an fled town amid justifiable embarrassment. As Bradley made the contracted weight, the WBC has stated that it will move the Palm Springs, CA boxer to their mandatory position. Castillo’s failure to make weight is becoming an alarming trend in the fighter’s otherwise impressive career. He notoriously failed to make weight in the rematch with the late Diego Corrales and then again failed to make the lightweight limit in their rubber match. That infraction cost Castillo a $250,000 fine and a six month suspension. It is not clear as of right now if Castillo will be penalized for this current infraction.
Quick Weekend News Break
Posted by Tim Starks on Mar 8, 2008 04:33
