Ricky Hatton - My Take

Agreed. Hatton is/was great for boxing and many fighters could learn a thing or two from him. I hope he retires now as he owes his fans nothing.

I was sitting only a few rows from the ring last Saturday when Ricky Hatton was knocked out stone cold by Pacman, and like the rest of us - even those who expected a Pac victory - was shocked by how devestating the beating was. The head trainer at the boxing gym I go to said it well, I think. After the fight we were talking and he said "Ricky's a really, really, good fighter. But Manny Pacquiao's a great fighter." I think that's the truth, but I think there's more too it. Ricky Hatton is a come forward, tough fighter who likes to bang it out, and it's his ballsy style that has earned him what is irrefutably one of, if not the, most amazing fan base of any boxer in the history of the sport. But, in the end, his style was never good enough to stand up to those at the top of the sport, he was never able to knock over the greats, and to many like my boxing trainer they reason that it means he himself is not a great. I disagree. Ricky Hatton was a world champion, and was undefeated in 40+ fights against tough competition and the only losses he suffered were at the hands of the "greatest fighters on the planet". But in MY opinion, that's what does make him great. He could have picked some lesser, or washed up opponents and trounced them and retired undefeated like Calzaghe, but instead he chose to put himself in front of the toughest fighters he could have possibly faced. He's a warrior, and even after being knocked out by Mayweather he tried again, and though he failed in MY mind he will go down as a great fighter because of his spirit. I take NOTHING away from Pacman, he is a great fighter and obviously a much better fighter than Ricky Hatton. His victory was 100% earned and I respect the hell out of him and Freddie Roach. But Ricky put his shit on the table, he faced the best, and I think history will and SHOULD be kinder to a fighter who tried and failed then those who never put their ass on the line. (*cough CALZAGHE*cough) nah... ricky's not a great fighter, just a very good one. he's 2-1 against elite boxers. you got to give hatton credit for having to balls to fight great fighters in their prime tho.. not like some other fighters calzaghe

Infern0, I have to disagree. Are you kidding me? Bernard Hopkins was on the same level when Calzaghe fought him as PBF was when Hatton fought him? Have you forgotten that PBF was #1 P4P in the world at the time of their about, as well as being a far better fighter all around, p4p, then Hopkins ever has been?? With exception given to his fight with Mikkel Kessler, which was by no means an easy fight for him, Joe Calzaghe's career does not impress me as much as Hatton's. He faced an unproven hype job in Jeff Lacy, Peter Manfredo Jr. is not even worth mentioning, obviously, and Bernard Hopkins and Jones Jr. are both ONCE-GREAT fighters who were over the hill and not in their prime. Joe Calzaghe could have fought top fighters in Carl Froch (who he'd have beaten), Jermain Taylor, Chad Dawson, etc... Im not saying ANY of them would have beaten him, and regardless if he's a better all around boxer than Hatton, he proved he's not as much of a warrior by the people he chose to fight. End of story.

Absolutely. Not an all time great. But a great champ, a fearless fighter, and a gentleman of the game. A throwback fighter who deserves credit for a great career.

i also think ricky is a great fighter ..not atg but a great champion ..