From my personal perspective I think he could or should have stepped up to world level prior to 2014 when he beat Porter. I'm a fan of Kell but he beat Jennings in '10 yet let his career stagnate for 3/4 years until Porter. I just think if he'd of made the jump sooner like around '12 he'd of achieved that little bit more in terms of resume.
Well hang on...If he was that bad he wouldn’t have outboxed malignaggi in his twilight years...was beating him to the jab all night...ok malignaggi isn’t world class but he won a world title afterwards with no dig whatsoever...
Call me biased as I was part of Ajose Olusegun’s management team. However the fact remains that Hatton never fought or defeated both Witter and Olusegun so you cannot say he was definitely the best in the UK. Personally I am of the view that Matthyse would have beaten Witter and Hatton. Furthermore I quite like Hatton always have and was at ringside when he defeated Kostya Tyzu in his finest moment.
Calzaghe was not overrated at all, he was a very special fighter. I thought Tszyu was cheated by the referee in their fight, Hatton was headbutting, holding, etc., ref was biased as hell..................but Hatton was pretty good at times. Hatton was cheated in Vegas against Void for sure............Cortez would not allow Hatton to fight on the inside.........
Loved watching both of them. I travelled for Calzaghe fights from his early days and Hatton. Hatton was very good, where as I have Calzaghe down as the best Super Middle ever, so no I don't think they were overated
Both fighters battled demons against outside the ring like Frank Bruno did .However like Bruno it didn't diminish there accomplishments in the ring. There arguments for both fighters under/ overrated but overall a bit of both.
I would have to say the victories over Ali Chebah in the final world title eliminator, the knockout of Ali Nuumbembe and winning the Commonwealth title against Gary Reid.
Both great fighters. Hard to say if over/under rated as down to personal choice and I suppose how they are viewed by wider public. IMO Hatton was world class but fell short of being an elite fighter. I thought Tszyu was passed his prime but dangerous with right hand, I picked him against Hatton. Hatton had a war with Thaxton on way up and I honestly thought he would fall short at world level but he beat some good fighters, sold out arenas and even made an impact in the U.S. if you put Hatton in with Relikh/Barthelemy/Imam/Lipinets etc in his time, he wrecks them. Joe Calzaghe IMO was an elite fighter. I was once of a thought, like a lot of fans that you needed elite speed or power to be an elite fighter. But Calzaghe although quick with some power, never was elite in those two categories but he was really well rounded. His boxing performance vs Lacy was similar to BJS-Lemieux but Lacy was favourite if not mistaken and unbeaten champ plus he put on more levels f a beating with a clinic. His inside and clinch game were good, he could take a shot, change levels, bait, probe, feint, move, fight, set traps. He had it all. He had scrappy fights and poor performances, hand problems too. But IMO he was an elite fighter. And if he and Hatton has been in the same weight class, I’d pick Joe to win. He just always found a way, intelligent fighter.
So he has absolutely NO world level victories.....yet Hatton needed to prove himself against him? Olusegun faced 1 world level opponent in Matthysse and took a hiding. I understand your support for him but he was never on Hatton's level or radar.
Olusegun wasn't even considered on Witters or Hattons level. I cant remember it even talked about tbf
Ali Chebah was world contender as was Ali Nuumbembe. You may not perform as well against Matthyse with basically a few weeks notice. Anyway different topic like I said I quite like Hatton who was a very good fighter. The only point I am making which I stand by is that we cannot say he was definitely the best in the UK because he did not settle all domestic matters. Mind you internationally he did the job and was the best 140 pound in world for a while.
Come on man, neither Nuumbembe or Chebah ever beat anyone of note either. Both fighters resume where stacked with African/British/Mexican journeymen. Olusegun could have been very good but he never made the jump to world level...at least top 10 world level until Matthysse.