Why was Ricky Hatton so popular?

Hatton's people capitalized on a gap in the casual mainstream market that had been left by Hamed.

Shrewd matchmaking made a good fighter appear great, having 'greatness' attached to your name adds gravity to the contests you are involved in, and generates interest from the fans who buy the tickets.

There was a strong and proven promotional angle that positioned him as 'one of the lads'.

This was good marketing because if Hatton is indeed 'one of the lads', and therefore 'just like you', then it becomes a standard wish fulfillment fantasy; if Hatton can do it then so can I.

Feeds into tribalism, pride, he represents a non-specific set of working class values.

 

if you are seriously suggesting that a guy like Maussa was as good as Witter then I just don't know what to say, beyond that your boxing knowledge is a joke. I read your reasoning....it's laughable.
Witter has never been anything special...in the sense that he's world class but nothing more...are you saying Hatton was ever anything more?

 

They share the same 'best win'

Junior has done nothing to be compared to Hatton. Junior has done nothing to be called world class

If you disagree please enlighten me

 

....except win a world title....

 

Beating Corley and Harris, winning the WBC title and becoming the #1 ranked 140lb'er by Ring Magazine means you are not world class?

Pray tell...who WERE the world class fighters at 140lbs?

 

the guy is losing the plot I reckon. Or was he just this clueless from the get go?
Witter has some other very respectable wins, including Ndou (in the States)....a much fresher Ndou than the one Paulie built a lot of his rep on.
as much I feel Hatton was massively overrated I acknowledge he was world class...in the sense he can mix with champions and belt holders. He was never a p4p fighter and we can all see that now. How the **** is Witter any different/less??
also worth noting there were plenty of people in boxing picking Witter to beat Hatton as recently as 12 months ago.

 

Instead of being drawn into endless arguments with stupid Hatton critics, Hatton's fans should pride themselves on Hatton ignoring Shitter, but they're too dumb to take that p.o.v.

 

Yep, Ndou. Shot Corley and Maussa victim Harris.

How the **** is that any different/less than Tszyu, Collazo, Castillo and the rest??


Anyway chaps it's been fun but I'm feeding the trolls no more on this issue.

 

Feeding the trolls:deal

 

Yep, Witter gets an awful lot of disrespect considering he has one of the best resumes of any junior welter.

He beat N'dou, current WBA champ Kotelnik, Corley, Harris. When you can't get the real big fights you've gotta earn your stripes the hard way fighting solid comp and as far as I'm concerned he did that and deserved the fight when Ricky cherrypicked Lazcano.

His resume is superior to that featherfisted, clown haired Malignaggi. It's amazing you hear from Hatton's fans "but he was #1 at the time :|" yet when we point out Witter was #1 and WBC champ and Hatton never even looked in his direction.

 

if you want to play it that way then how about 'Phillips victim old man Tszyu, shot Castillo, KOd in 1 round Maussa, gatekeeper Collazo etc etc'

don't try the patronising bull****, you've been talking bollocks on this issue all along.
you know very well I wasn't comparing Witter and Hatton records....I was making the point that your claim that Witter is not world class is laughable...epsecially when you big up Hatton's record so much. Good grief.

 

Hatton should've fought Witter,as a British boxing fan I feel I missed out on an unbelievable clash of styles. Did he duck him, who knows?

Witter is a more likeable guy these days but back when he was calling out Hatton, he did so in a very annoying way, so the reasons Hatton gave for not fighting him could be valid.

 

I didn't really get exposed to hatton untill the tszyu fight, and being in the states don't know if I can answer from the perspective some of you can, but will try and lend my own.

Ricky seems to be real down to earth IMO, although not super charismatic nor an exceptionally slick talker. But watching him vs Tszyu I was impressed...I did not credit hattopn with much of a chance based off of what I had heard about him, and even that was somewhat limited. What I saw was a guy who took Tszyu, maybe not prime but still a solid opponent, and did what very few excpected going in. I saw a figter with limited skill (hope I am not being to harsh), but great heart, desire, quick inward movement (not allowing Tszyu to get set at all), and a desire to win. I know many question his tactics, and/or smothering style, but I don't see anything wrong with it and instantly liked his smothering style as the infighting he implemented takes great skill and a willingness to be hit while landing your own shots. I always knew when Ricky fought that i would see him try his hardest, try to fight the best and lay it all on the line...I'm really not sure what's not to like.

I like the energy that Hatton and his home country fans brought to the sport..and am not sure what boxer (and fans), can replace the energy that will be lacking when he is gone!

 

Collazo beat the crap out of Berto, but the criminal judges gave the decision to Berto to the tune of boos.

 

maybe you know Witter better than i do??? He seems a nice enough guy, but i never viewed him as a serious threat to Ricky (but then again I didn't think ricky would beat Tszyu nor did I thin Pac would beat hatton..so what do i know?). I always veiwed Witter as middle of the road talent, and not one who could rest atop the LWW division for 4 years like hatton did. Witter seemed to call hatton out admirably enough and smart enough to see his biggest profile fight and payday, but don't see how it could be seen as hatton ducking as I would favor most of his opponents over Witter as well. This may have had a nice UK appeal to see two of their own battle it out, I just don't see why so many make a big deal out of this one.