Early Hatton fights

There's a lot of talk on this forum about Hatton being past his prime, and so with this in mind I thought I'd start a thread dedicated to a "Prime" Ricky Hatton, specifically the period before Kostya Tszyu where he looked unbeatable.

If any unlucky Americans missed out on his early career, and want to know what all the fuss is about, these are the fights you should watch. Please feel free to post video's to the fights mentioned to illustrate your point.

1. Hatton - Magee. Hatton's first real test against someone who's fringe world class. Magee was as hard as nails and a devastating counter-puncher who would've knocked ten bells of **** out of Junior Witter had they have met. Hatton tore into Magee from the opening bell, but got caught by the classy Irishman's counter right-hand and put on the canvas.

Hatton suffered a torrid first few rounds, but adjusted his gameplan and went to outboxing Magee, nipping in and out of range and using angles to avoid counter shots. He fought extremely intelligently for a 24 year old and if anyone thinks that Hatton cant box they should watch this fight. When he wants to, he can box, and he has got a good defence, but his instinct is to brawl and thats what gets him into trouble. No fight shows this better than the Eamonn Magee fight.

2. Ricky Hatton - Vince Phillips. Although Phillips was basically a journeyman at this point in his career, he was a very good fighter in his prime and still dangerous. This was the hardest test of Hatton's career, and Hatton absolutely pulverised him in a sustained and brutal 12 round beatdown. I think this fight should've been stopped after about 7 rounds because in the end it gets painful to watch. This fights shows off Ricky's sheer strength against a vily veteran. Vince Phillips never took a beating like this in his entire, illustrious career.

3. Ricky Hatton - Ray Oliveira. Once again, Oliveira was a former champion who had in his prime been a real contender at 140 and 147lbs. He was aggressive and perfectly capable of matching Hatton in terms of offense and workrate. Hatton decided that instead of doing the sensible thing and outbox the older man, he would beat him at his own game and go to war. He set about trying to KO the veteran warrior in the opening round, and looked incredible doing so. Here's the video.

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Please post examples of your own, with video's where possible, of the hitman in his prime.

 

Thanks for joining in the thread in the spirit it was intended boys. your contributions where appreciated.

There's a hundred other threads on this forum where you vent your repressed homosexual anger at Ricky Hatton, why come here and derail an attempt at intelligent boxing analysis with the same old tired cliché's that just go round and round in circles getting nowhere?