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Michael Marley Vegas Big
Fight Blog |
Marley Meets Hatton, Hatton Gets
Title Fight Nickname Gift;
"Last Tango For Urango' Coming Soon
To Hot 'Lanta, HBO
LAS
VEGAS -- I had the distinct pleasure
of meeting what the Brits like to
call a value for money fighter last
night.
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Yes, I
am talking about the Manchester
Menace, Ricky Hatton. Through an
introduction in a darkened MGM Grand
adult beverage station made by their
American connection, Big Cigars
Pelullo from Philly, I also met
Hatton's main handler, Dennis
Hobson.
After complimenting Hobson on
Clinton Woods recent stirring
victory over Glen Johnson, I then
showed my many years of etiquette
training. I gave Hatton and Hobson,
visitors to our shores from Old
Blighty, a gift. |
Hatton's
next fight will be against IBF champ
Juan Urango in Atlanta and Big
Cigars Artie mentioned that, like
every big bout, they needed a proper
nickname for the show.
This was so easy I laughed into my
two olives martini. I told Big
Cigars that he was talking to the
nickname king, the guy who first
labeled Neon Leon Spinks, the guy
who bestowed Commander 'Vander upon
Holyfield, indeed the one and only
(sorry, Floyd) who gifted Francois
Botha with the White Buffalo tag.
LAST TANGO FOR URANGO. That's the
name, I said, and Big Cigars Artie
smiled. Hatton chuckled and Hobson
smiled. Let them laugh while they
can.
My Nickname Creation invoice will be
going out to Big Cigars Artie's
Banner Promotions office the first
thing on Monday.
Besides, what can you rhyme with
Atlanta, anyway?
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No doubt Freddie Roach and
Manny Steward are cinches
for the Boxing Hall Of Fame.
I am hard pressed to name a
better trainer extant than
that formidable duo.
But they have a completely
different approach to
publicity for young
prospects under their wing.
With the Kronk Goldfather,
every boxing tyro gets the
big buildup. Steward heaps
superlatives upon his
prospects from the first day
he sees them. Such is the
case with Irish middleweight
Andy Lee, who ran his pro
record to 5-0 Thursday
night. |
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To hear Steward tell, Ed
Brophy and the boys at the
HOF should start preparing a
space at their ring shrine
for Lee. "He will be,"
Steward tells one and all,
"an all-time great. For
sure."
Maybe he will and maybe he
won't. It is very easy to
slide from prospect to
suspect.
With the lower-key Roach,
you have to inquire about
one of his up and comers. So
I asked the improper
Bostonian about his debuting
Scottish middleweight Craig
McEwan who appears in a
four-rounder here Saturday
night.
Roach answered quietly but
firmly.
"Craig is a good kid," Roach
said. "I was in Scotland
with Stevie Collins and that
is how we met. I can tell
you Craig has amateur
victories over both John
Duddy and Andy Lee."
Funny but "wind man" Steward
never mentioned that.
Two great trainers, two
different approaches to
building up boxers. Steward
rides the hype train while
Roach speaks softly and
sharpens young men's skills
quietly.
Hard to see how a young,
developing fighter could
wrong with either one. But
Steward's up and comers
might want to wear earmuffs
once in a while lest they
start believing Steward's
self-propaganda.
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