Why is Hatton so much more popular than Lennox, Hamed, Bruno, etc?

[Peterp]

i was born and raised in England. Trust me the race thing is a factor. Not saying all Pommies are racist, definitely not, but a large number of the type of demographic boxing attracts (young working class males) do tend to be less racially tolerant than the rest of the population. They definitely see Hatton as a 'good old british lad, one of the boys'

Also Hatton does seem to be a really decent bloke, not up himself at all

[Sin City]

Because he is white?

[Franko]

Bruno was a ****. A ****ing cartoon character. He should have stuck to his HP adverts and Pantomimes. Damn he used to piss me off.

He was only a national hero cos he was a ****ing clown.

My granny liked him though.

Some fight fans dislike Bruno because of his limited ability e.g a friend of mine despised Bruno, and could never understand why he was given so many title shots, going as far as to claim that it was because he was an 'Uncle Tom!'
I couldn't understand this attitude. Bruno was, and still is a very patriotic man, and although he was a very limited fighter he did boast some admirable talents, most notably the power in his right-cross. One thing i did admire about Bruno was his self belief and bravery. Surely to God he knew he was up against it in both the Tyson fights, but he gave it his best shot and i admire that. Bruno's fierce patriotism rubbed off on his supporters, which i'm sure clouded their judgement. Many believed he'd win the 1st and then the 2nd Tyson fights! I never gave him a chance against Oliver McCall...Proved me wrong.

[Franko]

Nobody really knows who Ricky Hatton is in Britain outside of Manchester and outside of hardcore boxing followers

It's nothing compared to Eubank and Bruno

You must live in cloud cuckoo land if you believe that...

[Orange Sneakers]

Our dear Frank was the taxi drivers favourite, he averaged 10 million on BBC with the first Tyson fight watched by 12 million, but Clay-Cooper II had 15 million on BBC and Benn-Eubank II 14 million on ITV (Eubank AVERAGED 14 million in his prime). Our 'Enery back in the day was apparently bigger than Bruno ever was, and Bruno didn't appeal to all classes of people like Eubank did (upper class found Eubank hideously humurous, OAP's were obsessed with the man and young kids loved his hero-like ring entrances).

There are some who'd argue Eubank was the most 'popular' since Cooper - Buncey included: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlConte...8/sobox18.html , http://www.activefone.net/chriseuban...ooter=ftr_home

Remember, the 'man in the street' isn't everybody. The (angry) man in the street despised Eubank (everyone else loved him), but they still talked about him...

The man in the street doesn't talk about Ricky, and his highest-ever viewing figure for a fight is 350,000. He actually had the opportunity to fight on BBC, but turned them down for Setanta, and is now back on Sky Box. The reason? Money. So much for the 'humble, modest lad from a council estate' stuff..

"I'm just like you!" Only difference is, Ricky, we've not got £15million in our banks mate.

[kayjay]

He built that audience from fighting in Manchester all those years; when an exciting fighter appears repeatedly in the same arena, he builds a base. It happened even with Gatti in AC, and Gatti has never been anywhere near as good as Hatton.

[Mozza]

There have been quite a few very good and/or celebrated British fighters.

Lennox Lewis is probably the most accomplished of all British fighters in recent years. Before him, Naseem Hamed was widely marketed, and Frank Bruno had moments in the sun.

None of the other fighters were able to mobilize large groups to fly across the pond or to sell big numbers on the scale that ricky has.


What has made ricky hatton so much more adored and revered by the British public than the other fighters who have come to America?

I've never been to England, so perhaps the British contingent can help me understand this dynamic.

Britain is a predominantly white country and most of its citizens are working class. As a white, working class male, Hatton appeals to a large amount of the population and is therefore the most popular British fighter of recent times.

[Franko]

Our dear Frank was the taxi drivers favourite, he averaged 10 million on BBC with the first Tyson fight watched by 12 million, but Clay-Cooper II had 15 million on BBC and Benn-Eubank II 14 million on ITV (Eubank AVERAGED 14 million in his prime). Our 'Enery back in the day was apparently bigger than Bruno ever was, and Bruno didn't appeal to all classes of people like Eubank did (upper class found Eubank hideously humurous, OAP's were obsessed with the man and young kids loved his hero-like ring entrances).

There are some who'd argue Eubank was the most 'popular' since Cooper - Buncey included: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlConte...8/sobox18.html , http://www.activefone.net/chriseuban...ooter=ftr_home

Remember, the 'man in the street' isn't everybody. The angry man in the street despised Eubank (everyone else loved him), but they still talked about him...

The man in the street doesn't talk about Ricky, and his highest-ever viewing figure for a fight is 350,000. He actually had the opportunity to fight on BBC, but turned them down for Setanta, and is now back on Sky Box. The reason? Money. So much for the 'humble, modest lad from a council estate' stuff..

"I'm just like you!" Only difference is, Ricky, we've not got £15million in our banks mate.

So what's he meant to do mate. Bank his money and go live on a council estate in Manchester?

[Orange Sneakers]

If Hattons bouts had mainly taken place on ITV/BBC, his popularity would have dwarfed anything seen by any of the aforementioned names

Nonsense. Have you not noticed that on the few occasions he's been on TV outside of boxing in the last year or so, there's been a very strange, silent atmosphere when he's talked.

He's a pasty little **** and I don't see how he'd have drew more than the average 3-5 million viewers, his pre and post fight stuff on SKY just isn't very funny really and would be less funny to the general public. He tries too hard.

[Mozza]

Nonsense. Have you not noticed that on the few occasions he's been on TV outside of boxing in the last year or so, there's been a very strange, silent atmosphere when he's talked.

He's a pasty little **** and I don't see how he'd have drew more than the average 3-5 million viewers, his pre and post fight stuff on SKY just isn't very funny really and would be less funny to the general public. He tries too hard.

Did Hatton **** your missus or something?