By Liam Brindle: The majority of the boxing world has a soft spot for Ricky Hatton. Whether it is because of his heart, his aggression, his style, how down to earth and humble he is or his willingness to fight anybody at home or in the states.
The past 19 months or so have been something of a nightmare for Ricky, being boxed for the majority of 10 rounds then suffering a KO at the hands of Floyd Mayweather. Then in May this year, Manny Paquiao brutally disposed of the Mancunian in just 2 rounds with fierce left.
Sandwiched between these losses there where two wins for the Hitman.
I know it is so easy to ask the question now but was Hatton right when he decided to part companies with his long time trainer Billy Graham after the Juan Lazcano fight?
I mean we all know that Ricky Hatton certainly was not at his blistering best on that May evening in Manchester but, would he have been better to retire after that fight? Beaten off the P4P king, then a record breaking home coming in his home town at the stadium where his beloved Manchester City play?
At this point Hatton was 44-1 with names like Jose Luis Castillo, Juan Urango, Luis Collazo, Kostya Tszyu and Ben Tackie on his hit list.
The world had fallen in love with this little brawler with a huge heart and an even bigger left hook. So what do you do when your beaten by the best and have a slightly dodgy performance? Sack your trainer?
At this point in his career Hatton was 30 years old and trying to become a boxer. Was he doomed from the start?
After the Paul Malignaggi win the world was raving about a rejuvenated Hitman. But looking back and having watched the full fight again, I cant help but think that the Ricky Hatton of old would have had Paul Malignaggi out of there in 8 rounds.
I’m pretty sure I don’t have to mention the Pac-Man demolition we all know what happened that night.
I dread the day that the great Ricky Hatton becomes a scratching pole for young lions to sharpen their claws on. I hope he has more sense than to fight again, and like I said earlier my opinion is he should have retired after the Juan Lazcano fight. I know it is easy in hindsight.
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