Interview: Ricky Hatton hopes Anthony Joshua avoids ‘prospect’ Moses Itauma

Ricky Hatton spoke exclusively to Betway and spoke about the following:

• Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren are at fault for Fury vs AJ fight delay.
• The only fight for Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury is each other.
• If they don’t fight, both should retire.
• Anthony Joshua should avoid being ‘stepping stone’ for Moses Itauma

I = Interviewer
RH = Ricky Hatton

I: Do you think Tyson will come back?

RH: Tyson called it a day and I think we all took him with a pinch of salt. The fight has to be made now, we’ve been waiting 10, 12 years for it so are we going to wait another 12 months for it? Tyson and AJ are getting older, a little bit more miles on the clock and I can’t understand why it’s not taking place? I don’t think it can be the fighters. They won’t get more money than what they could from Turki Alalshikh.

I: What is stopping it then if it’s not the fighters?

RH: It must be Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn. Turki Alalshikh is putting down the money and lately, Frank and Eddie have been working together with the 5 v 5 which has been fantastic entertainment. Turki, with respect, is the money man but is letting the people that know the boxing (finer details) put the shows on, but they won’t get any more money than what they could now. Frank is Tyson’s promoter, and Eddie is Anthony’s promoter and Turki is saying here is the money so put the fight on. I can’t get my head around why it isn’t happening. It’s left me scratching my head. I don’t know what’s gone on but you have to think why is it not happening because none of this makes sense. I can only put it on Eddie and Frank.

I: Who could you see Anthony Joshua fight next if it is not Tyson Fury?

RH: There’s only one fight I would like to see Anthony Joshua fight next and that is Tyson Fury. They should fight each other, and we have said for a number of years, boxing is the loser if the fight never happens and they’re both at similar points in their career. Tyson has had better days, Anthony has had better days, and it’ll still be as good of a fight, maybe even a better fight because they’re both at similar stages of their careers. People will still pay to watch it and it’ll still be a fantastic fight, but I only want to watch them fight each other and then they can put their feet up and enjoy what they worked so hard for and how proud they have made us all feel as British fight fans. I don’t want to see them going on and on and having fight after fight. Just fight each other and get the f*** out of there as far as I am concerned.

I: Could Anthony fight Moses Itauma at the end of the year?

RH: It could be a fight for towards the end of the year as Moses is a genuine prospect and from what I have been told, he is going to the very top. It might be a fight where he is coming up and Anthony is on his way down and it might be a good fight to make but I wouldn’t like to see Anthony being a stepping stone for one of our future world champions. I think he’ll be a future world champion but to knock out one of his heroes as he is going up the ladder doesn’t (sound good to me). We are a boxing family and if I wasn’t a boxer or a manager or trainer, I would still be a boxing fan and when you meet these people around the circuit like Dave Allen and Johnny Fisher and then Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and George Groves… you’re not speed dialling them every week but you get a closeness to them and respect for what they have achieved.

You don’t like seeing them get hurt because it’s like watching a mate get knocked out. We will have to see though as it seems like Anthony Joshua and Eddie Hearn want to carry on the ride and we all have a choice but I am just saying as a British fight fan and a friend, I would like to see Anthony fight Tyson Fury next, there’s only one fight that needs to be made and if that isn’t made, I wouldn’t be bothered (about who either fight).