By Allen Hmiel: Two marginal boxing champions both limited in ability and talent but huge on heart and desire and even courage. Both Champions in their time even though questionable champions who were protected as much as possible to become champions. Padded boxing records, smart managers, acute financial advisers and boxing records littered with average opponents with lousy reputations. They both seem to be an even match up in punching power speed size strength and extremely hittable.

Each of these Caucasian Warriors gave their all in each fight limited as it was they each achieved title belts, defended their belts and eventually were humiliated in defeats in giving up those belts to much deserving champions. But they each had a good run lucky as it was. Not since Gatti-Ward are two guys made for each other. Similar in size and skills, Boom Boom Mancini and Ricky Hatton were blessed with hearts and courage and a desire to give their all to boxing. What a match-up these two would make. Not a Pacquiao-Mayweather but just two good average guys having a slugfest and giving it their all.

But both Boom Boom and Hatton had the courage to face the best and get pulverized by the best. Hatton was exposed by Mayweather and Pacquiao KO’s after building a marginal record on the bodies of mostly untalented defenseless Brits at home in England.

Boom Boom Mancini also lost to some of the better ones like- Arguello-Bramble-Camacho and Haugen. Outside of Arguello maybe not household names or legends. Boom Boom also tragically had a Korean fighter Duk Koo Kim die after their fight.

But taking heart and desire into account each of these transparent paper champions and media darlings gave their all in each fight. What a great matchup this fight would be of two fighters coming right at each other punching in bunches and flailing away with defense being an after thought and their faces absorbing every blow. Mancini the shorter of the two fighters didn’t know how to quit and Hatton was the same way win or carry me out. Both knew their boxing limitations and did their best to overcome their lack of physical skills with courage and guts and a belief that they could wear their opponent out and out punch him. Give one punch take three seemed to be their strategy.

My guess Hatton would take Boom Boom in a match-up of evenly talented fighters but only after absorbing enough punches and punishment due to his limited defense to escape with a hard fought and deserved points win on all cards.

While neither fighter Hatton or Mancini will be remembered as great they will be remembered as good fighters who used every bit of their limited skills to gain a championship and tried to defend their belt successfully until a more rightfully deserving talented fighter came and took that belt away. Call these guys average boxers even call them good, but they were great representatives of boxing using smoke and mirrors and average opponents as long as possible to maintain their time at the mountain top. Boom Boom and Ricky going at it forever and being remembered for their heart, courage and ability to somehow wrap a Championship belt around their waist. It doesn’t get any better than that.