Does Ricky Hatton have AMERICAN fans?

[Chipp3r]

Dios - PLEASE stop writing in red!

[Steelhammer86]

It matters, because I doubt that a fighter who fights more often than Hatton, can have his fans fly out for every fight. For Hatton, it's OKay, they seem to be able to make the trek. Generally speaking, it's NICE to have fans from where you hope to do your fighting. WORLD champion, wants WORLD recognition, I'd assume.

And when Hatton defeats Mayweather, he will finally have that world wide recognition...

[THe TRiNiTY]

It's a fair statement, and it shows Hatton is much more popular in Britain, than Mayweather is in America.

That's debatable. Mayweather gets 250,000+ buys for his PPVs. Meaning, not only does he have a lot of people watching his fights, they're willing ot pay from home. I'm sure Hatton is popular, but.. it's alot closer then one might think.

[THe TRiNiTY]

And when Hatton defeats Mayweather, he will finally have that world wide recognition...

We'll see.

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

Win or lose against Mayweather, this fight will give Hatton great exposure and the fact that he's a thoroughly nice guy and a witty and articulate interview will mean that he grows on the American public very well over the course of publicising this fight. I'd imagine that many Americans will WANT him to shut Floyd up and if he does, or if he just fights bravely and comes close (which in all honesty is much more likely than PBF 'destroying him'), or if it seems to some people that he gets 'cheated', then it can do wonders for Hatton's career.

Flip side: what if he loses badly or is not at all competitive in the fight? What will the American public say if Floyd stops Hatton in 9 or 10 one-sided rounds? Think Hopkins-Trinidad-esque.

That is the true test, I think. Despite the veil of invincibility being pulled off Trinidad, the boards continue to buzz with every announcement and he sells with every 'comeback'.

Unfortunately, the Americans didn't know Kostya Tszyu.

Context: My favourite fighters are Casamayor, Guzman, Pacquiao , Mayweather & Ouma. In pretty much that order.

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

Dios - PLEASE stop writing in red!

Is that hard on the eye?

[Steelhammer86]

That's debatable. Mayweather gets 250,000+ buys for his PPVs. Meaning, not only does he have a lot of people watching his fights, they're willing ot pay from home. I'm sure Hatton is popular, but.. it's alot closer then one might think.

The US has about four times the population of Britain... Hatton seems to be more popular with the average boxing fan in Britain.

A lot of boxing fans in the US, including some who post here, dislike PBF because of his running in the ring and because of his trashing other fighters - yet it is rare to find a British boxing fan who doesn't like Hatton, although a few do exist.

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

It's a fair statement, and it shows Hatton is much more popular in Britain, than Mayweather is in America.

Boxing is more popular in Britain than it is in the US. And the US has a LOOONG lineup of sports stars. The culture is different. No athlete in the US has ever reached Posh&Becks levels of fame/obsession. There is no US-equivalent to Fleet Street.

My guess is that boxing is the number 3 (?) sport in the UK. Behind football (soccer) and dental care dodging.

In the US, boxing has become largely relegated to a fringe sport. You have (US) football, basketball, baseball, NASCAR, hockey, golf, etc. And MMA has cut into boxing's fanbase. many of the younger fans think MMA is more interesting.

[.Mik.]

You really doubt it? Tell me you do, so everyone can laugh at you.

I never said that I doubted De La Hoya has fans worldwide. I just think thats its ridiculous that you try to criticise Hatton for bringing 10,000 fans across the atlantic with him when De La Hoya has always fought in America and thus the bulk of his fans have barely had to go anywhere.

I sincerely doubt that out of the two of us, anyone will be laughing at me unintentionally.

Flip side: what if he loses badly or is not at all competitive in the fight? What will the American public say if Floyd stops Hatton in 9 or 10 one-sided rounds? Think Hopkins-Trinidad-esque.

I'd like to think that they'd not take anything away from Hatton and instead give credit to Mayweather for demonstrating his skills, ability and worth. There is nothing wrong with being soundly defeated by the best boxer in the world and just having the balls to go toe-to-toe should be respected.

[.Mik.]

Boxing is more popular in Britain than it is in the US. And the US has a LOOONG lineup of sports stars.

Haha. It really REALLY isnt.