Is Hatton more popular than great?
March 9th, 2010
By Scott Gilfoid: There are legions of Ricky Hatton fans who really enjoy his fights and feel that he deserves to be considered as an all time great in the sport of boxing. But I’m not so sure about that. While I think Hatton is or was certainly a good fighter during his prime years, I don’t know that he was ever a great fighter. I think mostly that Hatton was a popular fighter in England, who had an entire country behind him much in the same way that Pacquiao has the entire Philippines behind him every time he fights. I don’t see any greatness in any of Hatton’s fights, and more importantly I see a lot of fighters that Hatton for some reason never fought.
This is just a short list, of course, because there’s other fighters that Hatton didn’t fight and who would have been better opponents, in my view, than the ones that he ended up fighting.
Let’s look at who Hatton did fight as far as his biggest fights:
Floyd Mayweather – top notch
Manny Pacquiao – top notch
Kostya Tszyu – old, weight drained and fighting in Hatton’s home arena
Paulie Malignaggi – weak, no power and over his head
Jose Luis Castillo – old, small former lightweight champion
Juan Urango – terribly slow
Luis Collazo – a good fighter, but not in the class of a Bradley or Alexander
I think Hatton did well in his career by fighting Mayweather and Pacquiao, but the fact of the matter is, Hatton lost to both of those guys. And his other wins over Castillo, Urango, Tszyu, Malignaggi and Collazo aren’t that impressive to me considering that I see them all as flawed or in the case of Tszyu, old, weight drained and fighting in Hatton’s own arena despite the fact that Tszyu was the champion at the time. I actually think that Hatton should have had points taken away from him for the wrestling he did in his win over Tszyu.
But it’s the guys that Hatton didn’t fight that makes me think of him as merely a popular fighter and not a great one. Bradley has been a top fighter for three years now, and there’s no excuse for Hatton not fighting him during this time. Why fight Malignaggi, a weak puncher, when Bradley or Alexander was available. And why didn’t Hatton fight Junior Witter? I don’t understand that at all, and it just makes me think he ducked him. That’s a guy that should have fought ages ago. I know it would have been hard and that Hatton might have lost, but I’m thinking this is a guy that Hatton should have gotten out of the way.
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pauli lewis was no freak just the best in the world.. so suck on that u silly yank!
matt porter ha ha you stopped swinging off fattons c0ck yet muppet
Ricky Hatton is a good fighter due to the fact he fight many fighter and only losts he has on his record are with two men that are the best and one of this men never lost to anyone ………………. I am a fighter I beaten everyone I face but Matweather and Pacman come on give the man a brake he good and could still fight and win at a high level.
He was/is a decent fighter, but never a top level fighter, and ability wise he’s far too crude to ever make it to the HoF.
He wasn’t just beaten by the two pound 4 pound best, he was humiliated, outclassed, and destroyed. There are plenty of boxers who are top class but not ranked number one in the pound 4 pound spot, who Hatton hasn’t faced. He’d have lost comfortably to all of them.
Tszyu win is impressive. I get the feeling you are not a fan of british boxers.
@ The Northfleet Mauler. When someone becomes popular enough to be known Worldwide, they have a responsibility to represent the sport in a good light. If anyone remembers the social/political climate in the 80′s, then they’ll recognise the same stench of working mens clubs, tabs, alcohol and small minded White trash mentality. What does this have to do with boxing?…well, the very same people (I use the word sparingly), who offer their opinions and money, that make this article possible or even relivant. Hatton is a sub-standard boxer, who beat a once great fighter, by using questionable tactics, of continuously holding and low blowing.
@ Pauli. America only managed to win the war of independence, due to the help of the French (you know, the country that opposed the war on Iraq, and Macdonalds responded by changing the name of French fries. LOL). I could go on teaching you about your own country’s history, and the money America made in World war 2, by selling weapons to both Germany and Britain. But there wouldn’t much point in using too many long words, as you would only struggle comprehend my meaning!
Okay, I agree with the article. No doubt that Ricky’s most likely a bit more popular than he was great, but as the article goes on it makes him sound like a lucky bum or something.
The fact is if Hatton sucked that bad, he would not have beaten the fighters he did. It took some level of skill to get in there and beat Tszyu, Urango, and the others.
Despite the fact that Ricky lost to Floyd and Manny, his ability to even land those fights shows that the guy had some modicum of ability.
pauli what a knob your comment is pathetic
I have to agree with the article and all your comments guys!
I must admit I suck and all that got me through all these years of boxing was the retarded fans who wasted their money on me.
Oh well, I am retiring now and am gonna enjoy the good life in the south of Spain sipping on Guinness!
It is true though! I have to agree with one comments about Ricky’s wrestling tactics, I mean he is a one-dimensional fighter who got exposed by Floyd and Manny!
No way Ricky deserves to called an All Time Great!
What exactly is the point of this article? Richard hasn’t fought for ten months and looks likely to retire. Why not look at current fighters. Say what you like about the man, but he beat everyone put in front of him, apart from two of the greats (no shame in that) and made a lot of friends and a lot of money. A very successful career, all in all. He gave us great entertainment.
Hatton isnt an alltime great i admit and im one of ricky’s die hard british fans but as for wat gilfoid is sayin is complete nonsense. beat an old and weight drained tyszu??? give me a break ricky hatton is weight drained cos of how much he jumped up and down in weight and tht he had a home town referee in the middle, excuse me but it looked to me as tho cortez was out to help mayweather when he beat hatton because he wouldnt let hatton go near him and then in the calzaghe-hopkins match he let hopkins do it all night. the castillo case was yes he did beat a slowing fighter but too knock him out the way he did was just spectecular and is one of the best ko’s ive seen (after the one hatton suffered himself at the hands of pacman). and as for all you brit haters just remember one thing WE PUT YOU ON THE MAP
This man really does hate Britain doesn’t he?
It’s funny i’m hearing Bradley i’m hearing Alexander but who have they beaaten?? lol wow a former hatton victim in Urango & Junior witter, who could fill all his fans in one taxi! lol
Now in teh case of you claim of weight drained & old age how many boxers can one pull out of the hat scott? let me name some of manny pacquiao’s victims.
Manny Pacquiao victism that have given him the P4P
Scott for the love of God, gather your marbles! lol
Firstly Hatton did not fight the likes of Bradley, Alenader, Khan, Maidana & Ortiz was becasue the ywere nobodies when he was at his peak, you fool! He did however batter from pillar to post the lieks of the great Kostya Tzyu, Luis Castillio(although past his peak) Paulie Mallignaggi & beat other excellent fighters such as juan urango & Callazo.
He only losses came to the greatest fighters of the past 25 years in Floyd Mayweather & Manny Pacquiao.
You mentioned why he did not fight Randall Bailey? Bailey who, the guy with 7 losses on his record? yeah beating him would have proved far more then beting Kostya Tzyu! the nyou mention more average boxers in Torres & Holt, Holt is finished as a top contender & his 4 losses have came to lower class fighters than hattons 2 losses.
In my eyes Ricky Hatton was a warrior who never dodged anyone & alwasy went down on his sheild, he fought till the end against mayweather jr.
The only thing negative i can say about Hatton is that his diet was the reason he declined so fast, & that is the only thing i can point to his fall.
Hatton fans are getting emotional but the article is dead on.
You have to give Ricky respect for fighting Mayweather and Pacquiao, but their are too many other fighters out their that he didn’t face that he needed to inorder to prove he was the best at 140. If he came back out of retirement and beat Timothy Bradley, and someone like Maidana then we have a debate, but right now its obvious the man shouldn’t be considered an ATG.
to all yankee fight fans apart from mayweather can you name a current great american fighter you toss bags
Hatton is an alkie. He’s best fighting at one Barry Hearns Prizefighters. That way he’ll only get hammered for 3 rounds.
north fleet he fought them because both may and pac knew it would sell ricky only took the fights for his big fat tab he as at the bar ie retirement the man as let his fans down saying one more great night for the fans then saying heart not in it tell the truth youve let your body go to pot and cant make weight even if you give the guy 8 months he still wouldnt blatantley let you all down as for witter still going who loves boxing more and who is the real pro now
scott very good article witter would have beat hatton then like he would now ive been saying what you wrote for years now most of his fans are pi55 heads not real fight fans if they were they would understand what you is on about
great article. hatton is successful for one reason, Popularity!!, If he was american, he would have lost many times & wouldnt be very rich.
of course he wasnt the best fighter. English people didnt love him because they thought he was the greatest. They loved him because of his style and the way he is out of the ring. Unlike America we dont chuck our boxers on the dump once they have lost once. He has Loyal Fans
He had a good career…not much to really be ashamed of. He just hit the ceiling, when he stepped in the ring against the best. There was nothing special about Ricky Hatton, as a fighter, to warrant being called “GREAT”. He made the right choice to retire.
good point! He is overrated
i just went to see what the odds were for the mayweather fight and to my amazement they had gilfoid 1/1000 as a bitter man who recently found out he was adopted by the 40 year old virgin! Peace xx
Ricky thought he could wrestle and foul his way to victory fighting Mayweather like he did Tszyu. He didn’t have a home town ref on his side on his own turf. He got exposed and knocked senseless. Pacman exposed him even worse.
Ricky Hatton is my fave wrestler
COMING BACK UP SEEING THE PICTURE AGAIN AND NOW IM LAUGHING NICE!!!
LOOKING AT THE PICTURE HURTS ME
GREAT!! YOU MUST BE KIDDING IM NOT EVEN GOING TO READ THIS ARTICLE.
Hatton a great fighter?? Aaah no. Compare him to the greats. Ali, Armstrong, Pacquiao, Joe Lewis, Robinson, Hagler, Hearns, Leonard, Duran. All better. All great. British fighters just suck, except for Leonix Lewis. He was a freak. British guys cut easily and got no guts. Thats why we kicked your ass in the revolution. Cuz you’re pussies. LMFAO!!! hahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahah
Hatton was beaten by 2 p4p kings. I don’t see any reason to discredit his accomplishments. At least, he didn’t duck nobody.
Hatton is a bit of both, he’s popular and has had greatness…….good luck to him.
bradley& alexander were nobodies at the time and khan was an apprentice light wt at the time.tszyu was coming off one of his most imppresive wins of his career over sharmba mitchel by 3rd rnd k.o.and was ranked #3 pfp.
tszyu is a very physical fighter and didnt mind throwing a few fighters around himself so he welcomed hattons style,he just didnt have an answer for hattons mauling,brawling style.i do agree that hatton should have fought witter though.that still bothers me,but witter was high risk minimal reward.hatton was looking for the superfights.so i agree with the artical on that point.
Hatton was a bit of both, he deserves alot of credit.
You have to agree with the article. He was POPULAR among idiots who dont have a clue. NOT a great fighter.
Say what you want in return but this is Hattons legacy=
Beating an ancient tsyzu
Ducking Witter
Losing to mayweather and pacquiao
Getting fat and telling jokes
Lol man ricky should have retired right after the pac fight,not leave the ring in that instant!! Grabbed the mic from old man larry merchant(by the way did he ever fight??anyway he sucks balls like ricky) and just say “ok look fans thanks for your support but I suckered all of you into believing that I was good?I fought C type fighter 80 % of the time and I hug a lot!!I should have been a wrestler instead.I know it hurts that I am coming clean but I’m just average!I suck like my no name brother that also hasn’t fought anyone…mayweather and pac did me like I was in jail so I fooled all of you!” Maaaaan!! Ricky sucks he should fight a amature and then retire! I know it hurts ricky fans but this is the truth!! Its the truth!!
seriously how thick are you gilfoid. Fair enough some of hatton’s opponents weren’t great but on the whole they were better than most. Also why mention alexander??? He was a nobody when Hatton was at his prime. What would have happened if he had fought him instead of a current world champ like Malignaggi in 08. Everyone would have ripped into him and called him a coward. You are a proper idiot, get a life and stop moaning about british fighters.
RICKY HATTON IS A GREAT FIGHTER , HE MAY FALL JUST SHORT OF THE TOP NOTCH GUYS BUT THEN AGAIN MOST DO ,DONT THEY ? STOP SLAGGING THE BRITS OF WEVE MORE HEART THAN YOU YANKS …FACT ….BET YOU ALSO THOUGHT LENNOX WERNT MUCH COP EITHER
In response to the gentleman who mentions Ricky being friends with Mr Manning and also the other guy who mentions there not being many ” Dark skinned ” people at Ricks fights. What has that got to do with boxing???
Hatton wasn’t the greatest fighter out there for sure, but to say that he ducked fighters I think is stupid. He fought two of the pound for pound kings. Sure, he lost, but he fought them. Witter wouldn’t have beaten Hatton, no way. It just wasn’t that big a payday. Hatton was a brawler and pretty good at what he did. Against the top fighters he just fell short, but I do not think that in his prime he would’ve lost to many guys.
ONLY 1 RICKY HATTON (DON CHETO’S A YANKEEEE TWAT)
he was a good boxer. you can all argue the toss all you want…undermine him & his opponents…but his record is good & will more than stand the test of time.
I can actually agree with most of this article. Ricky was a good fighter, not great. Thanks for writing about something different finally.
Hatton was a glorified club fighter. An average boxer with a massive fan base. He fought 2 world class fighters and got spanked twice. He was ok fighting old men and cab drivers. I’m glad he is retiring.
Great fighters are defined by their fans.
Give Hatton a rematch with mayweather
Next time Hatton will KO mayweather in 5 or 6 round……
DAMN I’M PRAYIN AA KNOCKS DIRRELL SPARK OUT SO I CAN LAUGH AT U YOU LITTLE MAGGOT
what a d**k u r gilfoid ,, hatton maybe didnt fight a few muppet yanks of your choice but he did fight a lot of future hall of famers ,, he was and is a GREAT fighter/warrior ,, u wanna watch out gilfoid me old mucker sumthing tells me a lot of people dont like u and karma will cum round and smack u in the mouth me thinks if not karma then sum1 will crack u you little crack head … THERES ONLY 1 RICKY HATTON
im a hatton fan but i agree with this article.spot on