How will Hatton be remembered?

By Charlie Barrett: In this country, we have a curious habit of building up our hero’s, only to knock them down again. I’m not saying Ricky Hatton was our hero, but maybe we should take a step back and ask ourselves why so many want to degrade his contribution to British Boxing?

Let’s examine the facts!

Ricky’s record up to this point stands at 45-2-0 32KO’s

* Former-Central Area Light Welterweight Champ
* Former-WBO Inter-Continental Light Welterweight Champ
* Former- WBA Inter-Continental Light Welterweight Champ
* Former-WBU Light Welterweight Champ
* Former-IBF Light Welterweight champ
* Former-WBA Super World Light Welterweight champ
* Former-WBA Welterweight Champ
* Former-IBO International Boxing Organisation Light Welterweight Title.

By most standards a pretty impressive roll call.

The Hitman without question has been the most consistently exciting fighter for over a decade. Hatton should be applauded for helping to excite the casual Boxing fan to buy a ticket or simply switch on the T.V.

Our great sport will always need Boxers that can cross over and appeal to the general public. Recent examples of such fighters are Benn, Eubanks, Hamed and towards the end of his career Calazghe. Hatton was by far the most popular and his army of fans unparallel in British Boxing history.

As well as Ricky’s exciting all action style inside the ring, Hatton also possessed an easy, open charm outside it, a Hatton fan would just as likely to have been 24 or 64, black or white.

Ok let’s take a look at the Hitman’s career.

Ricky Hatton was already firmly on the Boxing radar by the time he faced Jonathan Thaxton in 2000 for the British Light Welterweight Title, by the time the dust had settled the radar would no longer be needed.

Cut badly in the first round over the left eye, Hatton found himself under pressure for the first five rounds. Thaxton was also cut in the fifth and from then on Hatton’s work rate and pressure carried the day and gave him a clear point’s victory. Six fights and six early nights later, Hatton stepped in against the common Wealth Light Welterweight Champ, Emmon Magee, a teak tough southpaw stylist.

The Hitman found himself on the seat of his pants after walking on to a short right hand counter in the first round. But despite the knock down, Hatton rose on steady legs and finished the round on top. The rest of the bout was never easy, but again Ricky’s work rate and tenacity carried the day.

By now we were starting to get a clearer picture of Hatton’s strengths and weaknesses.

In 2003, Ben Tackie was lined up as Hatton’s toughest test to-date,

Tackie from Ghana but boxing out of New York’s Bronx, was a genuine world class fighter and had taken Sharmba Michell and Kostya Tszyu to the score cards in back to back fights.

In this contest the Hitman would show a new more restrained side and chose to box rather than rumble with a dangerous opponent. Scores of

118-110, 120-109, 120-109, reflected his comfortable victory.

Four further defences of his WBU Title followed, and then on the 4th June 2005 at the M.E.N. Arena, Hatton faced off against big punching Kostya Tszyu for the IBF Light Welterweight title. In 30 previous contests, 25 had floundered. Born in Russia but now an Australian National, Tszyu in recent years had been handicapped by a shoulder injury that would require surgery and force him out of the ring for 22 months. His come back against Shamba Michell was a devastating 3rd KO.

7 months later the Thunder from down under found himself in the eye of a hurricane named Ricky Hatton. Hatton fought like a man possessed, for the most part disregarding defence in his eagerness to land his own punches.

Tszyu fought valiantly and did everything in his power to clinch the victory, but Hatton was in no mood to be denied and simply punched the resistance from his opponent, forcing him to retire on his stool at the end of the 11th,

Ahead on all the judges score cards at the time, the Hitman was now IBF World Welterweight Champion.

Carlos Mausa was dispatched in nine messy rounds.

Ricky then stepped up in weight to face WBA Welterweight Champ Luis Collazo, a tricky southpaw from Queens, New York.

This fight was really meant to be a showcase, a chance for

Hatton to introduce himself first hand to the American public and build his profile over the pond. It turned out not quite the way he would have liked, Collazo proving much tougher than anticipated.

Collazo was decked within the first 30 seconds of the 1st round and it looked like an easy night was in store, Hatton went into over drive, trying to get the job done, but the naturally heavier man proved stubborn, and the fight turned in to a struggle. ………………………………………………………………………

In the final round Collazo had the Hitman in real trouble the unanimous decision that followed was met with a mixture of cheers and boos.

The experiment at the higher poundage proved harder than anticipated and would be put on hold for now.

Back down to Light Welter, Hatton’s next opponent was the unheralded Juan Urango 17-0-1, nicknamed Iron-Twin, a southpaw, what he lacked in skill he more than made up for with strength and power.

Hatton came out a little quieter than usual and it continued in that vain, probably realizing early on that the Iron in his opponents nickname was very apt, as punches seemed to bounce of his foe with no effect. Hatton punched and spoiled his way to a wide point’s victory.

If the Urango fight was less than exciting, his next bout was anything but, Jose Luis Castillo, was meant to be a risky challenge. Castillo had faced Maywether Jr twice, Stevie Johnston twice and the unforgettable Deigo Corrales twice, the first fight being one of the most exciting contests I’ve ever seen.

Castillo was meant to be a real hand full, but in truth the old warrior’s best days were behind him. Hatton simply punched through him, dropping the veteran in the 4th with a wicked body shot. Castillo could have carried on, but probably saw no point and watched the ref count ten.

On the 5th of May 2007, one of the best fighters to ever lace on a pair of boxing gloves had just won a spilt decision over Oscar Del Hoya. The stage was now set for Hatton v Mayweather.

The media build up to this mega fight was much the same as other mega build ups. Mayweather was his usual brash self and played the bad guy well.

Looking back now it’s clear that Hatton’s team had wrongly brought in to May weathers fancy pad work and seeming lack of substance.

Clips of The Hitman smashing ten bells out of the over-sized body shield thinking they could do the same to the Money Man would prove to be very misplaced.

The fight took place at the M.G.M Grand Las Vagas on 8th Dec 2007,

I don’t think we need to go over the fight here, more than enough has been written and said.

Ricky simply tried to do what he’d done to everyone else up to that point, walking on to shots with no regard to defence, if he landed one body shot then I missed it. The Hitman was cruelly exposed.

The defeat to Mayweather meant the axe for long time friend and trainer Billy Graham, sometimes these things are for the best, a fresh approach can work wonders.

But many eyebrows were raised when it was announced that Mayweather Sir, would train Ricky for his upcoming bout with Paulie Malignaggi.

What ever problems Malignaggi had going into the fight, it shouldn’t detract from Hatton’s solid showing. Ok, so nothing had really changed, but for now Team Hatton were looking good.

The Hitman was now in the position for his second super fight against his second pound for pound super star, one Manny Pasquiao; the Pacman was coming off an 8th blasting of Oscar De La Hoya.

In all honesty there were few in the trade that expected a Hatton victory but even less predicted the dramatic outcome. Before the first punch was even exchanged, whispers were being heard that all was not well in Hatton’s training camp, and with just hours to go before the first bell those whispers were now an open secret. Communication between trainer and fighter had broken down, not, an ideal situation, to find yourself before a major fight.

Again it’s not necessary for me to go over the fight, we know what happened

The Pacman was brilliant, Hatton was woeful. It was a sad end for a fighter that had always given his best.

But Boxing has no time for sentiment, Hatton had simply reached his ceiling of ability, if you’d re-run the Mayweather or Pacquiao fights 100 times, Ricky would probably loose 98% of the time, that’s just the way it is.

Sticking points

The name of Jr Witter will always be linked with Hatton,

And the big question, why didn’t the Hitman fight the Hitter Witter.

As far back as 2004 Witter had been banging the drum for the fight.

Opinion will always be divided, either you think Hatton ducked Witter because he was scared or afraid he would loose, or you take the view that Boxing is first and foremost a business, its all about risk and reward. I personally believe that at no time was Witter worth the risk.

Hatton was always the money man the box office draw,

Whether at British, European or most important World Level.

Hatton could put bums on seats.

Ask yourself if you were The Hitmans promoter charged with doing the best for your fighter, what would you do? Let your man fight a genuinely dangerous opponent that’s only box office in the U.K. or look at the big picture. Unfortunately, Witter was always chairman of the who needs him club.

So we come full circle, since the Pacquiao defeat Hatton has concentrated on building his promotions company and things look good.

If Hatton never pulls on the glove again he owes the Boxing public nothing.

So what that he enjoyed a pint and a pie (or two) between fights, he always entered the ring in tiptop condition and mostly gave value for money.

For all Hatton’s short comings his defence and his lack of adaptability, he still reached the heights that few could dream of in his chosen career.

Hatton did the best he could with the tools he possessed,

When I open the book on my life, I’ll be more then satisfied if I can say the same.

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