By Kwame Cinquez: On a deeper analysis of the data available, I cannot help but feel we need to re-address the standing of “The Hitman.” Ricky Hatton, the former WBC champion. Whilst being a most likeable person, his talent as an actual boxer must come into serious questioning, and not just off the back of the horrendous beating he sustained off the lightening fists of the Philippines finest, Manny Pacquiao.

I for one had long questioned Hatton’s ability long before he fought Australian Kostya Tszyu, a fight which I firmly believe would have been stopped (or at least points dropped for persistent fouling by Hatton) had it not occurred in the UK. After watching that fight, to borrow a phrase I truly wondered if Hatton knew where the body was buried (in reference to the leniency shown by Dave Parris). His fighting technique is at best rudimentary, and his constant clinching is the complete antithesis of what boxing is truly about. I cannot accept that his legions of fans adore him for his style, and at the highest level, on foreign terrain, Hatton has been truly found out. This article, rather than being an attack on Hatton, is an attempt to present a neutral argument to the merits of Ricky Hatton’s standing within both UK an International boxing.

Following his defeat of Tszyu and his subsequent KO of Carlos Maussa, his next two fights were indeed highly questionable decisions for Hatton. I for one felt both Urango and Collazo did enough to win, or at least draw, and the unanimous decisions given against them were indeed mind boggling. Furthermore, they also showed Hatton’s key deficiencies as a fighter, notably his poor footwork, lack of head movement, and lack of speed and counter punch. I had long stated that once Hatton came up against a pedigree fighter, it would end up in knockout, and I didn’t have long to wait.

The win against Jose Luis Castillo has to be tempered against the fact since to his first fight against Diego Corrales; Castillo has failed to make weight with the exception of a controversial split decision over Herman Ngoudjo, and has looked laboured in doing so. Castillo was a shell of the fighter who took part in the Corrales classic or indeed the initial Mayweather fight and did not provide stellar opposition to Hatton.

The Dec 8th TKO loss to Mayweather was not surprising but it confirmed to me my suspicions of Hatton. Notably his inability to fight when prevented from excessive clinching, and his inability to take a punch. Mayweather, for all his talents, is not known for his power, and the ease with which he dispatched Hatton only further highlighted the lack of ability on the side of Hatton. Marquez, a 35yr old lightweight, still managed to last the distance, as did De la Hoya, another fighter past his peak against the Pretty Boy.

Avoiding Junior Witter and taking the Juan Lazcano fight (despite Witter being the WBC champion in Hatton’s own light-welterweight division) seemed to fly in the face of logic. Lazcano could not have been more lucrative than facing Witter, when considering the animosity between the two, and Hatton’s excuse of ‘Not wanting to give Witter his biggest payday’ just rang hollow to me. Furthermore, another outrageous bout favourable refereeing clearly rescued Hatton, with the referee seemingly calling time for a Hatton Break, whilst he was clearly out on his feet against the semi-retired opponent.

Paulie Malignaggi was custom made for Hatton, with his lack of punching power, and his own corner’s throwing in of the towel was later found out to be due to the Magic Man’s broken hand, rather than Hatton’s complete dominance over him (in sharp contrast to PM’s defeat to Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto).

His brutal loss to Manny Pacquiao only reaffirmed that Hatton cannot truly be considered amongst the top tier of fighters. Marquez, De La Hoya, Barrera, Morales, none of them lost as comprehensively to Pacquiao, principally due to their ability being the true justification for being in the ring, a reason I do not apply to Hatton.

I believe Freddie Roach got it right when he said, “Hatton, and I hate to say this about a world champion, and he wasn’t that good.” I believe that perhaps that is the best description of the man, without being overly aggressive or negative, Hatton was able to simply utilize the support of the masses in greater Manchester by his perception as a ‘regular guy’, and it was this (box office appeal), far more than ability, that led him to be the main attraction in both Las Vegas and Madison square garden, a feat I do not see being repeated any time soon. Any champion can lose a fight, Lennox Lewis lost to both Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman by way of brutal knockout. His response, rematch knockouts, is also the mark of a true champion. Hatton’s swerving of his only British rival in Witter, and his failure against the top fighters internationally, clearly demonstrates that his position at the top table is clearly recognized by anybody outside of the UK, neither is it based on merit. I wish Hatton luck with the rest of his career, but I for one cannot envisage Hatton fighting again at the premier level.