Hatton Should Have Pulled Out From Pacquiao Fight?

[mrosborne]

That quote "I don't think Pacquiao is that much better than me" doesn't mean "I still think I'm as good as he is", it means "I don't think my ability is really as bad as it looked that night" - i.e. he thinks he under-performed. But he didn't claim that it was anyone's fault but his own that he under-performed. Ray did claim that, and made excuses, but Ricky didn't.

And he did under-perform. He'd have lost even if he'd followed the game plan, but the fact that he completely ignored the game plan and played right into Pac's hands by not moving his head, keeping his hands low, etc. didn't exactly help. And any fighter who has any pride at all is going to think after an embarrassing defeat that they aren't really as bad as they looked.

And he has given Manny props, saying it was "a fantastic performance by Manny".

Ray's making excuses and that's wrong, but it normal for a father to make excuses for his son, so it's wrong but understandable, IMO. But Ricky saying "I don't think Pacquiao is that much better than me" (meaning that he thinks he under-performed) isn't making excuses, and I don't think it's arrogant either, it just shows he hasn't completely lost his pride.

100% agree with this statement.

[mrosborne]

Were you saying that after the Malignaggi fight?

No, I was saying Malignaggi couldn't punch his way through a wet paper bag and that Hatton did the business on him. I've never been impressed with that meatball to begin with. Malignaggi has heart and takes a vicious beating, but as a fighter I think he's garbage personally.

Hatton had a good showing against him, but let's face it unless your name is Lovemore Ndou you're not impressed with Paulie.

[DonTaseMeBrah]

That quote "I don't think Pacquiao is that much better than me" doesn't mean "I still think I'm as good as he is", it means "I don't think my ability is really as bad as it looked that night" - i.e. he thinks he under-performed. But he didn't claim that it was anyone's fault but his own that he under-performed. Ray did claim that, and made excuses, but Ricky didn't.

And he did under-perform. He'd have lost even if he'd followed the game plan, but the fact that he completely ignored the game plan and played right into Pac's hands by not moving his head, keeping his hands low, etc. didn't exactly help. And any fighter who has any pride at all is going to think after an embarrassing defeat that they aren't really as bad as they looked.

And he has given Manny props, saying it was "a fantastic performance by Manny".

Ray's making excuses and that's wrong, but it normal for a father to make excuses for his son, so it's wrong but understandable, IMO. But Ricky saying "I don't think Pacquiao is that much better than me" (meaning that he thinks he under-performed) isn't making excuses, and I don't think it's arrogant either, it just shows he hasn't completely lost his pride.

i dont know whether or not u have selective reading or just interpret things differently but that quote doesnt sound humble but quite arrogant.

Even ricky's first couple quotes after the fight;

"I never recovered from the first knockdown"

"He got me with basically the first punch he threw"


First of all, he was getting tagged with 4 right hooks & 6 or 7 jabs before that counter right hooked knocked him down.

Second of all, he more than recovered from the first round. He didnt get KO'd until the last second of the second round. It wasnt as if he was getting rocked the whole second round. He got crushed with a blind left hook.


He could have gotten out the first round without getting touched. but that lefthook would have still laid waste to him.


So i already call bull**** on those 2 quotes from ricky alone.

[Allucard]

Ricky should have taken an hint from Zaghe being dropped vs 2 40 year olds to know this generation's Brits are no match for prime p4p fighters, no matter where they are from.

[Shattered Jaw]

He shouldn't have said bet the house on me that's for sure. I was telling some friends of mine that when Hatton said to bet the house on him I was immediately concerned, citing Tommy Hearns telling Detroit to bet the house on him against Hagler. The sad part of that is that many in Detroit actually DID bet the house on the original Hitman Tommy Hearns.

Note to fighters: Never say bet the house. Ever. It's asking to lose, and badly.

Wasn't that Leonard, not Hagler?

[Dave Rado]

i dont know whether or not u have selective reading or just interpret things differently but that quote doesnt sound humble but quite arrogant.

Even ricky's first couple quotes after the fight;

"I never recovered from the first knockdown"

"He got me with basically the first punch he threw"


First of all, he was getting tagged with 4 right hooks & 6 or 7 jabs before that counter right hooked knocked him down.

Second of all, he more than recovered from the first round. He didnt get KO'd until the last second of the second round. It wasnt as if he was getting rocked the whole second round. He got crushed with a blind left hook.


He could have gotten out the first round without getting touched. but that lefthook would have still laid waste to him.


So i already call bull**** on those 2 quotes from ricky alone.

I agree that he's delusional to some extent, but he also said he hasn't watched the fight tapes yet, because it's too painful for him, so it's not surprising that his memory about what happened is faulty. I'm not saying that what he said in those quotes is humble, but I don't think they're arrogant either, they're just delusional, IMO. And I don't think they amount to excuse making, although what his father said is excuse making of the worst kind - but as I said before, I think it's understandable that a father would try to make excuses for his son, even though it's wrong.

[Dave Rado]

Hatton had a good showing against him, but let's face it unless your name is Lovemore Ndou you're not impressed with Paulie.

My point was that Ricky looked like he'd rediscovered some of his pre-Tszyu skills (head movement, use of the jab, etc.) in that fight, and most people put that apparent rediscovery down to the influence of Floyd Snr.

[tkunz]

The only reason that Mayweather didn't knock out Ricky in Round 2 was that he had the skils to play with him as long as he wanted to. Ricky didn't accept that defeat and thought that he deserved another shot at Floyd. He s-canned his trainer and convinced himself that Floyd Sr. was the key to his boxing salvation. Unfortunately he looked like the guy who had just woke up the morning after bequeathing all his worldly belongings to Reverend Moon - and said 'OHHHHH ****TTTT'.
The Hatton's need to do themselves a favor and realize that Ricky is being used for the the fans that he draws - before he gets really hurt.

Ricky was a good fighter, a good guy and has a good heart, it's time to accept reality and retire gracefullyl.

[mrosborne]

Wasn't that Leonard, not Hagler?

Hmm, I'm pretty sure it was for the Hagler fight. HBO had the Tale of Hagler-Hearns on, and several comments made by the show participants were of people betting their houses and losing it on Hearns. I could be wrong though....

[mrosborne]

My point was that Ricky looked like he'd rediscovered some of his pre-Tszyu skills (head movement, use of the jab, etc.) in that fight, and most people put that apparent rediscovery down to the influence of Floyd Snr.

I'm not giving Floyd Senior any credit for Hatton's boxing ability in the Malignaggi fight. I've been a fan of Hatton's since 2004 and if you watch his older fights like the fight against Phillips or Tackie he clearly could box at the point and had a similar display in the Malignaggi fight.

Did Floyd Senior make any difference in Ricky Hatton? Not in my opinion. It's ultimately Ricky's fault for his performance in the end though, so not all blame is reserved for Mayweather. I would say Mayweather was more harm than good, though.