Well...an elite fighter would "become" elite by beating top world class fighters, even if he loses to better elites than him...surely. ...by your logic, no elite would lose to a fellow elite, because someone who loses to an elite isn't elite, by (your) definition...which begs the question...was the guy who beat the guy an elite in the first place then? Clearly not (according to you)...so you end up with two non-elites, having started with an elite...:nut A top world class fighter would not have been able to make that version of Tszyu quit like that. That is why I say "borderline elite".
Yes...he beat no true elite, so he is no true elite... ...so, would you agree with me that he was better on his best night than a top world class fighter?
Was Vince Phillips elite? Fighters can have the odd bad night, but ultimately you are judged by what you have done over the course of a career. Not on your best performance, or your worst performance. One swallow does not make a summer, and one loss does not mean you can not be great. However, if you've never beaten a great fighter its pretty difficult to argue the case that a fighter is elite.
Over the course of his career, once it started to matter, of course, Ricky, I'd say, performed mostly at B and B+ level...but on his best night, he performed at A- level, and he beat a great fighter, albeit with (*) attached. :conf EDIT: his fight against Malignaggi was a B+ performance imo.
He dabbled with elite IMO, whilst never quite becoming a member. I hope he hangs 'em up because he's declining; there is no way the fighter who made Tszyu quit would have lost in 2 to Manny, I don't care how fast Manny is supposed to be or how ATG he is or how easily he's going to become President of the sodding Phillapines. Hatton's legacy has bit of a damp squib against it, don't confirm it Ricky lad. Get out now. Elite fighter? no but bloody close, and a grade "A" fighter from these shores.
Elite, Fringe Elite, ATG, World Class, A- , B class Its all rubbish Internet crap..... He was a limited skilled fighter who achived well over what was expected of him 4 time champion at two weights, Lineal 140 for 4 years, was in the p4p top 10 for a good while, 2005 Ring fighter of the year, faced 4 HOF fighters beat two. What more do you want
I just got the impression that some posters seem to think everyone bar their own knowledgeable selves have been fooled into believing Hatton being some kind of elite boxing guru. I just wanted to gauge whether people rate him very highly by placing him in a top 100 or they just appreciate him even though they recognise his limitations at the very top end.
Sorry for the delayed response. On his best night he was at the top end of world class but he never reached that level again which was a shame. He still has some very good performances after that though.
The problem with Hatton's so called "A" performance against Tszyu was it came because of intensity. It was his first foray into world class. He fought like Ricky Hatton always fights, but the intensity of his performance made it a very good one, against a guy vulnerable to brawlers. He never quite raised that intensity again, or developed other areas of his game, to produce that A level on a regular basis.
Nowhere near top 100 ATG but does 'elite' mean being in that group? The term is used differently by everyone......some people claim Jermaine Taylor is elite! Hatton is a damn decent slugger, who's done well for a man of his obvious limitations. Until Pac came along, Hatton was the man at 140......but does that make him elite?
Hatton was a great British fighter. Nothing more, nothing less. The Tszyu win is over-rated. Tszyu wasn't an ATG top 200. He was an impressive fighter but he doesn't have enough wins over fighters in their prime to qualify him as a true great for me, plus he lost to Vince Phillips. Never good. That said Benn lost to Watson, Eubank, Malinga and Collins Eubank lost to Collins, Calzaghe and Thompson Collins lost to Miller, McCallum and Kalambay Hatton lost to Pacman and Mayweather. Its hardly damning evidence he was over-rated as some of the slower kids seem to be suggesting on here. Hatton ATG Brit!!.... But he will be regarded as 'Just' another champion internationally but thats not an insult just the way it is.
No. I rate him slightly higher than Arturo Gatti. And a long way behing anyone in the Top 100 of All Time.
