Mayweather-Hatton: Are You Really Not Watching?

AUSTIN – This is America, so we're all programmed by the four-lettered network to follow football religiously without much question.

Whether it’s the NFL, college, or high school, it isn’t hard to find a fan ready to rattle off stats from his favorite player. Just walk outside and throw a rock and you’ve got yourself a football debate.

Though I don’t like it, I’m beginning to cope with it.

But I’m still struggling to understand why I can’t find what's bound to be one of the best boxing matches of the year at any local sports bar.

I should probably clarify here. “Sports” fans know what fight I’m talking about—but the “football” fans that take what's shoved down their throats by the “sports” media are probably scratching their heads.

On Saturday in Las Vegas’ MGM Grand, Floyd Mayweather Jr., the annoyingly big-mouthed undisputed best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, faces off against Ricky Hatton, the pride and joy of England who's resurrected the lost art of body punching.

The fight is the best matchup between two fighters in a while. It’s hard to get inside Mayweather’s defense, but if anybody can slip a few by it’s Hatton, who's made a living off working the ribs.

Just ask Jose Luis Castillo, who took one of Hatton’s shots to the left side back in June and promptly sat down.

So why (to the best of my knowledge) are only two sports bars playing the fight, both with $20 cover charges?

When Mayweather faced off against fellow pretty boy Oscar De La Hoya back in May—a fight that turned out to be entertaining but which was never close in my opinion—the local bars were quick to tell any and all comers they were carrying the fight. I even remember a billboard advertising it.

But Hatton-Mayweather, which is equally anticipated, if not more so, by everyone I’ve talked to, doesn’t even get shown?

What exactly is going on tonight that makes owners think sports fans don’t want to watch boxing? Heisman presentation? High school dunk contest? Maybe the finals of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, which is for some reason being broadcast by the four-lettered network?

Is this really where boxing is in our county? Rodeo beats out Hatton-Mayweather?

Luckily for me, I know a guy who’s hosting a party where everyone will split the cost.

For those who don’t have that luxury, call up the local bar and curse them out. I did.

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