As the time inches closer to the December 8th showdown between unbeaten fighters Rikcy Hatton (43-0, 31 KOs) and Floyd Mayweather Jr. (38-0, 24 KOs), I’ve noticed that Hatton seems to get the more attention from fans in the majority of the websites that I’ve checked out. It’s seems particularly odd, because most of the fans – probably Americans and Canadians – have likely only seen Hatton fight once or twice, if at all, meaning his reputation has been carried largely by word of mouth and by HBO’s 24/7 advertising. It’s not that Mayweather doesn’t have his legions of fans, because they’re are quite a few crazed fans on his side, the type that would back him no matter how much he runs and pot shots.
It’s just that Hatton seems to have much more positive press from the fans, who mainly put a positive spin on his career, focusing on his aggressive slugging style. It could be that Mayweather, 30, comes off the worse due to his outlandish behavior in media interviews, like he’s intentionally playing the bad guy role in an effort to sell the fight. It seems to be off putting, not the kind of thing that would win a lot of fans to his side.
Though, Floyd had succeeded in causing a lot of dislike for him, as now many in the boxing world are actively rooting against him, hoping Hatton will badly beat him and knock him down a peg. However, in watching Mayweather dealing with his inner circle, he’s nothing like the persona he puts in the public. He seems kind, loyal and very protective of his friends and coworkers, nothing like what he’s showed in the past.
He doesn’t show cruelty or any similar meanspirited behavior towards his friends, which makes me think that he’s intentionally putting on an act – for whatever reason – to make people think he’s a tough guy. This act seems to have put many of the fans firmly in Hatton’s corner, and I can’t remember a time when so many fans wanted another fighter to win since the first Joe Frazier vs. Muhammed Ali bout.