Yeah but you have to understand that every good promoter does that. It happens to every fighter until they reach a certain point. Tyson was fed a load of cannon fodder. A mixture of club fighters/previously decent fighters who were on the slide/average fighters with impressive looking records (high wins/low losses).
There's too much money to be lost from your bread winner losing his first fight. Hatton was Warren's cash cow. He could sell out the MEN fighting 38 year old Vince Phillips. As soon as Hatton started dictating his own opponent, he almost tripped himself up. He fought an American named Luis Collazo. A welterweight who was light-punching, but was a name deemed viable enough for HBO. Hatton took the fight, and spent the entire 12th round on the verge of being knocked out. He managed to win on points - by the odd round, but in reality he was battered.
I actually had Hatton winning it by 1 round, but in truth, he was never going to lose on points. He had too much appeal. HBO could make an awful lot of money off him, and the Casino's in Las Vegas will have been smacking their lips at the thought of 20,000 Brits coming over to watch him. He'd have had to have been knocked out or very clearly beaten to stand any chance of losing.
And that's the thing with Boxing. If you're marketable, chances are, you'll be a star. I read an interview with Lou DiBella (A US promoter) and he was talking about when Paulie Malignaggi walked into his office. DiBella thought he was a half decent fighter, but nothing special, but he knew he was very, very marketable. Few years on, he's been in with Cotto, Hatton, Khan and Juan Diaz and he's probably bagged himself $3 or $4m.
Same things happening with Khan. Same thing happening with every other prospect in the sport. It's about taking calculated risks. Mayweather has never been in the ring with somebody he wasn't expected to beat (granted, it would be hard considering he's probably the best fighter in the sport - but he hasn't always been). Tszyu was the only guy Hatton had fought (at the time) where Hatton would be the underdog. The likes of Phillips, Tackie, Pendleton, Magee etc might be billed as great fights at a sell out MEN, but the result is a foregone conclusion unless something completely unexpected happens.
And that's what boxing is. In a way it's a con. But in another way, it's a good thing. A talented and marketable fighter will always be put in with the type of opponent who will make him look good. Right up until they reach a certain level and superfights can be made (Hatton - Mayweather, Hatton - Pacquiao, Mayweather De La Hoya, Mayweather - Pacquiao). The chance of losing is much higher, but the promoter has already done his job because his fighter is a star and he's earned him his money.
It'll be interesting to see what Warren does with next lot, as i don't see any of DeGale, Gavin, Cleverley etc having that star appeal that Hatton, Calzaghe and even Khan have.
