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

[monkeyboy]

Noone has mentioned style in this equasion. We have all agreed that Hatton is working class and appeals to a similar demographic. I have a su****ion that if he was a slick boxer he might not appeal as much to that particular fan base. He's a rough and tumble brawler and you can easily see how that appeals to people who have a less purist view of boxing and want to see blood, sweat and tears.
In the same way that Tyson appealed to everyone who secretly dreamed of being the 'baddest man on the planet' who knocked everyone out, Hatton (not unlike Gatti) has that image of a man who fights adversity with sheer guts and courage. A slick, smooth style is hard to do more than admire but to tougher people, perhaps it's the dream that they too could do what he does on sheer guts. It's a slightly more realistic Rocky story.
Look at wrestling. The rugged anti-hero nearly always becomes the crowd favorite over the pretty boy 'baby face'.

[Randall_Hopkirk]

Manchester is a relatively contained community. It's not like hatton is from the the East End of London. Is his popularity LARGELY Man-based... or is it pervasive throughout the UK? Is he popular (in Wales and Scotland and Ireland as well as) throughout England?

I understand that Hamed was accessible in Sheffield. Was that so?

Lennox Lewis had many more spectacular KO's than Ricky has. And, of course, boxing has always had that natural affinity to heavyweights.

Hamed had an ego as big as his bank balance, Brits hate arrogance so Hamed was never popular with the 'normal' folk.

[MightyMikeA]

Noone has mentioned style in this equasion. We have all agreed that Hatton is working class and appeals to a similar demographic. I have a su****ion that if he was a slick boxer he might not appeal as much to that particular fan base. He's a rough and tumble brawler and you can easily see how that appeals to people who have a less purist view of boxing and want to see blood, sweat and tears.
In the same way that Tyson appealed to everyone who secretly dreamed of being the 'baddest man on the planet' who knocked everyone out, Hatton (not unlike Gatti) has that image of a man who fights adversity with sheer guts and courage. A slick, smooth style is hard to do more than admire but to tougher people, perhaps it's the dream that they too could do what he does on sheer guts. It's a slightly more realistic Rocky story.
Look at wrestling. The rugged anti-hero nearly always becomes the crowd favorite over the pretty boy 'baby face'.

Hatton is tough and wants you to believe that he is this pure brawler that people love. But the fact is that he is no where near a pure brawler, but more of a technician with his punch and clinch technique. It's not all Hatton's fault though, the clinching is his form of defense. People fail to recognize that clinching is his sole defense from the punishment he would acquire from sustained action on the inside and so he grabs his man.

This to me isn't a very fan friendly style like Gatti's was (who also wasn't a pure brawler and sometimes "boxed").

You want a pure blood and guts brawler??

Michael Katsidis is your man.

That's a pure brawler who comes inside and throws CONSTANT PUNCHES and basically neglects all forms of defense because his offense is his defense.

[EliteSoldier]

its because hes white

[squealpiggy]

Bruno was more popular than Hatton ever was. Why didn't he get 10,000 fans crossing the atlantic? He only had two fights in the US of any consequence, both against Mike Tyson, and he had many fans travel over. Hatton is undertaking a world championship campaign in the US and has produced a three fight winning streak in America thus far. The numbers of British fans travelling have increased with each one.

But Bruno was still better known and more loved by "the man in the street".

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

Bruno was more popular than Hatton ever was. Why didn't he get 10,000 fans crossing the atlantic? He only had two fights in the US of any consequence, both against Mike Tyson, and he had many fans travel over. Hatton is undertaking a world championship campaign in the US and has produced a three fight winning streak in America thus far. The numbers of British fans travelling have increased with each one.

But Bruno was still better known and more loved by "the man in the street".

But PigMan,

Hatton was fighting Castillo. Bruno was fighting TYSON!! You would think that on starpower alone....

[Easton Assassin]

Hatton is tough and wants you to believe that he is this pure brawler that people love. But the fact is that he is no where near a pure brawler, but more of a technician with his punch and clinch technique. It's not all Hatton's fault though, the clinching is his form of defense. People fail to recognize that clinching is his sole defense from the punishment he would acquire from sustained action on the inside and so he grabs his man.

This to me isn't a very fan friendly style like Gatti's was (who also wasn't a pure brawler and sometimes "boxed").

You want a pure blood and guts brawler??

Michael Katsidis is your man.

That's a pure brawler who comes inside and throws CONSTANT PUNCHES and basically neglects all forms of defense because his offense is his defense.

All good points. Hatton demeanor also plays a role in his popularity. He seems like a very fan friendly sort that would have a beer with anyone if he was drinking.

Hatton does have a very interesting style, but what can't be debated is the effectiveness of that style.

He is not a brawler though! He is a pressure fighter!

[Easton Assassin]

its because hes white

Just would like to note that that is a slap in the face that is undeserve.....


Nevermind!

[Alibata]

Same reason Pinoys nuthug on Manny, Mexicans nuthug on Margito, African americans nuthug on Mayweather.. could it be because he is white and most of England relates to being white???

[Easy-E]

Probably because he is a down to earth classy guy.