BRITISH FANS: Some Questions...

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

1) What is the reporting on the fight?

2) What is the public sentiment?

3) Is there discussion about the disrespect to the anthem?

4) Are people surprised Mayweather is this good ?


Any info you can share about the mood, flavor etc of the UK sports fan would be appreciated.

[british_brawler]

why the **** do you care?

[gammondrapes]

1. Ricky Hatton's dreams of becoming the best boxer on the planet have been dashed by a Floyd Mayweather masterclass.



The Hitman was floored in the 10th round of a frustrating contest in front of a star-studded and passionate British crowd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.


Mayweather - with a lot of help from referee Joe Cortez - controlled the fight and finished it off in style putting the Hitman down with a left hook.


Hatton climbed back up, but his legs had gone and another right sent him careering back on to the ropes, before a simple nudge put him on his back again and forced the referee to step in.


It was a harrowing end to the Hitman's dream. A dream that as a memorable night went on, soon became his worst nightmare.


Brave to the end, he battled on as he always does, roared on by thousands of Brits, some boxing greats and some of Hollywood's biggest names.


But in the end it was Mayweather who wrote the script, set the scene and directed the action.


Assisted

He was ably assisted by referee Cortez who did not let Hatton get close to his man, when the whole world knew his best chance to was to get in the champion's face and fight like he has never fought before.


No sooner had he done that than the official was between them. Too many times he stepped in, once before Hatton had even thrown a punch. Cortez had been asked by Billy Graham to let them fight on the inside, but had clearly made his mind up.



From the first round he wouldn't let the rhythm flow, wouldn't let Hatton build up any momentum and it was clear that Hatton had two foes to deal with. In the sixth he had a point deducted for hitting round the back of the head, the only real surprise was that Cortez waited that long.


Mayweather's part should not be underplayed either. Ducking down into the Hitman's attacks he duped the referee, left Hatton with little alternative but to box round the back of the head and when that point was stripped, wasn't even hit - and was leaning out of the ropes.


But it was all part of the performance. A performance that proves this man, whether or not you like him, is far and away the best fighter of his generation.


Yet it had all started so well for Hatton, his pace and his workrate edging the first round amid the constant refereeing interruptions. The size of the task soon became clear though when, on the break, Mayweather started finding his range.


Precise

His straight right over the top greeted most of Hatton's onslaughts and although he did enjoy some success as the third brought the first in-fighting of the night, Mayweather was too cute to get caught in there for long.


Too many times his shoulder, or a slight sway stopped Hatton in his tracks, squared him up and allowed the Pretty Boy to land those clean, precise shots that set him apart from the boxing world.


It also produced a cut above Hatton's right eye at the end of the third. Sheer accuracy did it, and he was smart enough to paw it just before the break. Mick Williamson went to work though and it didn't seem to pose a problem after that.


Which was just as well, because Mayweather was now warming to the task.


A lightning left-right combination rocked Hatton for the first time in the fourth and by the fifth he started to look weary: tired of being told off by Cortez and tired of seeing Mayweather close the *****s in his impressive armour whenever a glimmer of hope appeared.


Mayweather even took the fifth round off. Hatton's angles had long since left him and his straightforward approach played into the champion's hands. For once, the irresistible force met an object both immovable and immaculate in all areas.


Fateful

Then came the fateful sixth round and in hindsight, the beginning of the end.


Hatton didn't hit Mayweather on the back of the head, he hit the ropes as the champion leaned out of the ring, but Cortez was all too quick to take the point off the Mancunian - the first time that has happened in his career.


Hatton responded by turning his back and sticking out his backside when the action resumed and Mayweather's little grin suggested he knew full well what was going on. And that he was about to stretch his stellar career to 39-0.


Two snappy uppercuts on the inside in the eighth showed that the Pretty Boy can do it all at whatever range he has to, while Hatton's scoring shots had long dried up. But as he does, he kept going, for at least three more minutes.


Ultimately it was the Brit's persistence that paved the way for his downfall. As he came forward Mayweather span him on the ropes and delivered what he labelled a check hook from the old school.


A classic in every sense it landed flush and Hatton fell to the canvas in the corner.


Stumbling

He got up on eight, but his eyes were somewhere else, his legs not his own. Mayweather was on him in the flash, a glancing right sending the Hitman stumbling back onto the ropes.


In the end it was nothing more than a nudge that ended Hatton's night in agony, 1min 35seconds into the session.


There is every chance that he could have stayed out of trouble for the remainder of the fight of his life, but that is not Hatton. Behind on all three cards he knew his dreams had been dashed.


And besides, you don't drag up to 20,000 fans across the Atlantic by clinging on for dear life.


There were tears from his girlfriend at ringside, the Brits in Vegas were shell-shocked if ubowed and back home, a nation held its head in its hands realising what we had feared had indeed, come to pass.


Everyone knew it would take something special to beat Mayweather. Everyone knew Hatton would give it everything. Now everyone knows that Mayweather is, as he's said all along, something very special.
Reply With Quote

2. everyone agrees ricky got whooped

3. panto

4. sort of

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

why the **** do you care?

[IMG]http://www.sallyminker.com/art/2-d/images/g****s-print.jpg[/IMG]

[Shanks]

1) What is the reporting on the fight?

2) What is the public sentiment?

3) Is there discussion about the disrespect to the anthem?

4) Are people surprised Mayweather is this good ?


Any info you can share about the mood, flavor etc of the UK sports fan would be appreciated.

after all the build in england this last week, this morning seems quite muted, almost through embarassment, although he has nothing to be ashamed of.

a lot of people now repect 'moneys' craft. what you have to understand is so many hatton arent boxing fans so they do come out with funny comments

[FloydNO1KO]

Nothing to be ashamed about went up a weight after a bad showing last time. Ref helped floyd alot but overall feeling is that floyd is to good end of. Also he has got more respect now from the british

[Italian Dragon]

Don't take the anthem thing to heart.

[obi9]

I am dissapointed for Ricky himself than for me - I gave it his all but came short.

I was a little embarrassed that we booed that anthem - but its just us crazy Brits full of adrenalin.

As for Mayweather - he was class - He boxed the perfect fight. He may of looked as though he was backing (or what some people say running) but he knew what he was doing.

I hope Ricky takes time to plan his future - he has had an amazing three years. I just hope this defeat doesnt destroy him. I doubt it as he is a true warrior!!

[sparked_85]

3) Is there discussion about the disrespect to the anthem?

I can't remember an Anthem that english sportsfans didn't boo. Andorra,Leitchenstein..you name it. It's not very nice but it ALWAYS happens.

[mrrbyrne]

Im a big Hatton fan but im a bigger boxing fan!!! Mayweather is without doubt a classy slick and smart boxer who mixed it with Hatton. Mayweather proved he is the best pound for pound fighter in the world at the minute and lets not forget Ricky is still L/w world champion! Fair play to Mayweather he gave Hatton credit after and the fans. A true gentleman IN THE RING!! Well done to both fighters for giving us a great fight!!