Ricky Hatton's place among the British greats?

It wasn't 'non-stop activity' though was it, not all the time. A lot of mauling, bursts of activity, more mauling.

I think Hatton had fast feet but seemed to use them increasingly more as he moved up in class merely to dart in rather than dart out. That he didn't do this against Malignaggi and employed some decent in and out movement and picked his shorts more suggests to me he tried to stunt his opponents punching room to avoid getting hit rather than to get off his own shots. He threw some nice shots to the body as we all know, and could put shots together fairly well at times (his left hook shot of Maussa is quality, even if he is jumping) but I think the fact he didn't always seem to use his head and box was because he was using his head and trying not to get banged out.

He ws durable nough but was aware he could be hurt IMO, and din't want to get stopped. Fair enough, but it didn't exactly lend to him becoming a 'great' fighter, not IMO anywa.

Good though, and effective enough. Just not against the calibre of fighters that have also been discussed on this thread.

 

totally agree with green gets underated my personal opinion is that green was a better lightwelter than hatton

 

That(though he was a finished fighter in that fight anyway) and because he was a generally technically poor unskilled labourer flea

But so was Hatton and Green was a bit better at it than Ricky imo.I've no doubts the Green who had to take his shot against a prime Palomino would have whipped the old can't fight 12 rounds Tszyu that Ricky had his big moment against.

Ricky doesn't beat the slick Hawk Price either.

 

I do think Hatton was a much better overall fighter than Junior Witter though.That said, they really should have fought.

Witter was just shockingly sloppy.

 

Ok i just think the posters here are being way too harsh on Ricky Hatton, his resume and ability is definitley better than Davey "Boy"Greene or John Stracey, i know that Davey Greene was good he gave Palomino a tough fight despite almost getting killed by Leonard.

I just went down a list of the best British fighters of All time and i would rank him 11th.

Ricky Hatton in my opinion is a Borderline HOF Id say hes about on Par with Barry Mcguigan who in my opinion is the gatekeeper for the HOF.

 

Hatton's record is hardly streets ahead of either of those two, if we are counting the important thing of fights won.Beating an old Castillo is no more impressive than an old Ernie Lopez or Hedge Lewis for instance.Maussa, Urango, Maignaggi, washed up Lazcano.....that's weak opp by any definition of the word.

It's Tszyu that makes Hatton's career.That was his moment, just like Stracey had Napoles.

 

If that's the case I don't think the problem is any harshness on our part. Mind if I check that list out?

 

Hatton was very good, but way below great.

Post WWII I would place him sixth below Jackie Paterson, Ken Buchanan, Lennox Lewis, Naseem Hamed and Joe Calzaghe. He was a little bit more consistent than Benn and Eubank, fighting similar level opposition, so edges them.

 

No i cant post the list:nono But ill give you the guys from England that i rate over him. I have him tied with Conteh.

Englands Best
1.Bob Fitzsimmons
2.Jimmy Wilde
3.Jackie Berg
4.Joe Calzaghe
5.Lennox Lewis
6.Randy Turpin
7.Ted Lewis
8.Freddie Welsh
9.Jim Driscoll
10.Naseem Hamed
11.John Conteh-Ricky Hatton
13.Nigel Benn
14.Chris Eubank
15.Howard Winstone

Others Honeyghan,Downes,Mills,Graham,Jones

 

Agree with most of this, aside from the Maussa KO shot, a good boxer would have rolled and counter righted that shot.

I think his activity an intensity were top level, he was throwing allot of powerpunches a round. Mayweather certaily had to raise his pace against Hatton.

His mauling came into overdrive from the Tyszu fight onwards. I think he figured out he needed to put the puncher on the back foot and take away his room, and when it worked he kept doing it until Mayweather battered him and he thought his skills werentgood enough, went to Mayweather Sr and thought he could box on the outside against Pacman. Dont think he beats Pacman anyway but if he mauled more he would have made a far better fight of it

Before Tyszu he wasnt anything like as bad the mauling and his workrate was better. But then again it was all older and smaller men

Agree hes not a true great but he certaily built a flattering resume for a lad with poor defense, wide punching and lack of top level power. The manner of the Tyszu and Castillo wins were impressive even if they werent pretty to watch, wasnt Ricky around top5 P4P after Castillo?

 

In the last 40 years I'd certainly rate Lewis, Benn, Eubank, Graham, Conteh, Hamed, Calzaghe, Conteh all over him in terms of ability if not resume and maybe Haye

 

I suspect that Lennox beats him head-to-head.

 

Alot of those are Welsh.

Everyone on your list should be higher than Hatton imo. Also Honeyghan, Pedlar Palmer (going back I know) and Tommy Farr. Arguably Downes and Mills as well.

On a British list Buchanan, Lynch and Moran ahead of him also.

 

Anarci-Conteh and Hatton are not equal. Conteh beat better fighters and was light years ahead technically. Also, Calzaghe above Lennox?

Also most of those fighters are Welsh and one of them is an Aussie/Kiwi/Yank

on a British list where would you rank Benny Lynch and Ken Buchanan? I'd have them both over Calzaghe personally.

 

Yey i originally put Buchanan,and Lynch on there but they are from Scotland which is a whole other country. Hatton did more than most of those guys you mentioned and I think you all underrate him cause he got blown out by PAC. Well I know they are Welsh but isnt Wales in England? Ask most fans outside of the UK and they think all those guys i mentioned were english.

Dont want to get in no debates here about Whos english and who aint , I know that you know the differences better than I do.