In Defence of Ricky Hatton.

I have been an avid reader of these forums for some time now and I have noticed that some boxers seem to get little to no credit despite having good careers. One such boxer is Ricky Hatton he is always called overrated etc.

I personally think Ricky Hatton has had an amazing career and has a massive respect for building a legacy rather than just focusing on the money. A lot of people slate Mayweather for chasing the Money yet when a fighter chases the legacy and dosn't acheive on the biggest stage of all hes a bum etc.

Ricky turned Pro in 1997 unfortuantly under the guidance of Frank Warren. He progessed through the British Ranks and in this 13th fight won the vacant WBO inter-continental light welterweight title.

After defending this multiple times his next acheivmant of note would be to defeat a tough unbeaten fighter in John Thaxton too take the British Light Welterweight title.

He then went on to stop Tony Pep (who 5 fights earlier went too points with Floyd Mayweather Jr), for the WBU 140lb title.

Unfortunatly still protected by the idiot Warren, Ricky struggled too get the massive fights he wanted but still fought decent names in Magee, Vince Phillips and the lively Ben Tackie before his big day would come.

His first fight of international interest was Kostya Tszyu, who was once recognised as one of the lb for lb best in the world. Kostya wasn't in his Prime but this was a big night for Ricky to try and gain the recognition to take him into further superfights. In a fight that was about as pretty on the eye as Susan Boyle , Ricky managed to bully, wear down and exhaust Kostya into submission.

His next opponant Carlos Maussa would be his last under Frank Warren, Ricky had decided too go stateside.

Debuting in America against the unbeaten Luis Callazo. Hatton had his man down in the first. After that Hatton did little too impress but managed too get the nod from all 3 judges.

Next up was Juan Urango who only 2 fights ago was fight Andre Berto for the welterweight title. Known as a tough operator this fight went too points again Hatton getting the nod.


Castillo would be Hattons next victim. Castillo a Veteran of many fights had no answer too Hattons ferocity and constance aggresion and collapsed under a sickening body blow Rickys trademark punch.

Then the big fight came against lb for lb king and PPV champion Floyd Mayweather. Ricky took this fight at 147lbs, when he was operating at 140 and his coach Billy Graham advised Ricky against the weight but such was his want too become the best he signed the fight. During a heated build up which caught the imagination i beleive Hatton took this fight too personal and wanted too kill rather than box Floyd Mayweather. In the ring Joe Cortez was very quick too break the fighters preventing Ricky from fighting in his zone on the inside. Despite many elbows and forearms from Floyd, Cortez failed to warn or deduct the fighter any points. The fight as we all know ended sensationally in the 10th when Hatton was the victim of a heavy Knockout. Many reporters after the fight fired questions at Ricky asking did the elbows and forearms bother you? Did Cortez ruin the fight? Ricky decided not too use any bull**** easy way out excuse and told them its not a tickling competition!

Ricky could have called it a day there and then but he felt he owed more too his fanbase. So lazcano at the City of Manchester Stadium was his homecoming fight. It wasn't the best display Ricky has shown and his hesitation to push forward was evident but he clearly won the fight and breathed a massive sye of releif.

Next onto Malignaggie, a tough fighter who went the distance with cotto despite a broken jaw. Many say with Paulie being so feather fisted he was made for Hatton yet these are the same people who claim Hatton has no boxing skills. Well Paulie although feather fisted has brilliant handspeed, good footwork, punches in good combinations and has brilliant punch resistance. SO boxing skills was required too win this fight and win Hatton did and became the first man too stop this solid contender.

Hatton could have seen out his career fighting mid range fighters and making a handsome easy penny but his next fight proved too the world that Hatton with his never say die attitude really would fight anyone.

LB for LB King with record breaking championships at multiple wiehgts Manny Pacman Pacquiao was next. Hatton under the supervision of Floyd Sr was desperate too defeat the Numero Uno but the differance in class was obvious from the first minute. Hatton tasted the canvas multiple times until with less than a minute too go of round number 2 Manny landed a blow on the hasty Hatton whilst leaping in with a Hook which sent him into another planet.


Now despite suffering the 2 heavy defeats he did suffer Hatton has done what all fight fans want fighters too do. You all moan and ***** that this fighters a ducker etc etc. Yet when a fighter decides too go around the world to fight the best out there and he comes up short hes blasted for it. Im no way a Ricky nutthugger as I hug the nutts of no fighter. At the same time I will always respect a man that tried and failed more than the man that never tried at all.

Hatton, as well as everyone else, knows he wasn't quite good enough too be lbh for lb king but one things for certain is he had an excellant career spanning 2 weight classes and multiple titles including the Ring Magazine title so only a fool would deny him dues.

 

Yeah i do the too thing alot. My bad.

 

I am not a fan of any boxer, i'm a fan of boxing. Some people who are fanatical about one fighter struggle to see his negatives and bliondly defend him. My aim in this post was too deliver a none biased look at Hattons career. He was never the best thing since sliced bread but he was a lot better than some of the critics on here give him credit for.