Why is Hatton more popular than Calzaghe in the UK?

[duffgun]

Simple Calzaghe is'nt Box Office for a start

Eubank ,Naz ,Hatton are box office

JUnior Witter is not Box Office neither was Michael Watson that is why he ended up fighting on the undercard to Benn v Eubank when he had alreadly beaten Benn

its about charisma and personality ,fighting style ,sound bytes in interviews all that kinda stuff ,Eubanks & Naz interviews alone were worth paying your money for

Reason Watson was on the undercard of Benn Eubank was because he lost his last fight and it was intended for him to fight the winner. Eubank Watson got about 12million viewers.

[tyson]

What the hell are you talking about, there is no Bird in Futurama.

[Ray*]

I think Hatton came around at the perfect time, His promoter sold him well to his football fans (Manchester city) as the working class hero who they could relate to...is willing to entertain His fans in a bloodsoaked boxing match, And isnt as ****y and arrogant like Naz was at the time.

So his fanbase just took off from there, Joe clazaghe just like Junior Witter lack charisma like Hatton had..They would rather stay at home watching TV than having a drink in a pub, So its difficult for people to relate to someone like them.

[ATFsven]

Hatton used to be exciting to watch and came along when we didnt have many boxing champs. he is also a down to earth bloke.
Calzaghe had a period after he won the title of being in boring fights. This all changed tho when he handed sheika a massive beatdown in a proper ruck at wembley conference centre. since then he had decent fights and his popularity went up in wales. And now people can appreciate his skills.. every boxing fan in UK will watch a calzaghe fight, but also non boxing fans watch hatton.

[Kris Silver]

I know some criticisms of Calzaghe's record do have some merit although to what degree opinions differ. I think he has a fairly good record, to have not slipped up against Bika, handled the powerful Kessler, and ruin yanks like Lacy and Manfredo, he's a much bigger proven boxer and name than Hatton imo.

Hatton gets too much media coverage for early ambitious fights from a working class lad, which appeals to our under dog, rocky attitude we get behind. Well it didn't work out. I think anyone whose a bit more savvy about our media, knows over and under hype when they see it.

But the majority of non boxing fans go along with Hatton being shuvved all over the media in front of them. Calzaghe doesn't get that, or want it as much, though he and his father rightfully took sports personality of the year awards sat next to Hatton, taking some of the spotlight away. I think the balance is seriously being tipped now, especially if Calzaghe wins in the US, and takes another huge fight, at last.

[Jolly Roger]

Ricky has tapped into the football market, he wears sky blue shorts and walks out to blue moon. Man City fans love this, even if they don't like boxing they love Ricky Hatton. Ricky is also more media friendly, he's been on every chat show in the country doing his "man of the people" act, aswell as doing little cameo's in comedies like TV Burp and that ****ty Green Green grass show.

I think Calzaghe shys aways from the media a bit, he certainly doesn't put himself about as much as Hatton.

[Degsy]

It will be interesting to see how many travel over from the UK to watch Joe, the Sports Personality prize came at just the right time.

Joe suffered from not having a rival, Benn and Eubank had each other, plus Watson and then Collins at the end of their careers.

I think it took time for Frank Warren to wake up to the fact that Joe did not need the sort of protection accorded others under his wing.

[T-97]

He's had more media coverage since a younger age and Calzaghe is Welsh.

Hatton has his PPVs sold on Sky Sports for £14 while Calzaghe's are avalible for subscribtion television (£10 per month).

Yeah, Joe also had some boring fights at one point in his career and it added up to a lotta peeps hatin on him

[Mozza]

Marketing. Hatton found a niche market pretty early in his career and has been riding that wave ever since.

[BrooklynBomber]

Well, simply because he is not english.
Calzaghe is the case of "one of our guys" as long as he winning, but once he loses he would become a stinky italian.