What makes Ricky Hatton a "shot" fighter?

[Doctor_Tenma]

Look at his fight with Juan Lazcano.

I made the BIG mistake of thinking it was because he came from a lost that he performed that way.

[Khalid X]

I mean being an athlete myself, I can tell you very rare is a boxer "shot".

what happens is
A. Certain fighters get satisfied with the money they have made and just don't have the same type of desire that made them the fighters they are today...ala Fernando Vargas. You can tell that was the case with Vargas because by his ridiculous weight gain and struggles to make weight you can tell his desire wasn't there anymore

B. Certain fighters gets there flaws exposed and either don't have the determination to improve or just so stuck in their ways that they don't make the necessary adjustments to prevent other opponents from capitalizing on there weaknesses.

e.g
Roy gettin KO'd several times and still fighting with his hands down, relying on his reflexes, and leaning against the ropes allowing his opponents to tag him

[Nuurzhaelan]

I've always questioned this myself. The guy loses to the two best fighters of this era and he's a bum? Granted his chin is cracked but I don't think he's that washed up.

It is the way he lost. Not THAT he lost.

In his fight with Floyd he wrestled and charged headlong into most of Floyd's punches. Then to punctuate his performance he was check hooked into a turnbuckle. His fight with Pacquiao is still very fresh in our minds. And then there is the inevitable and heavy plethora of excuses for each lackluster or failed performance.

The only time he ever took high risk fights was if the reward exceeded the risk. This is why if Khan, whom I have liked thus far, drops the title to avoid fighting Maidana I will lose respect for him. Take call comers, regardless of renown and earn your own. hatton always seemed to take the path of least resistance in pursuit of glory.

I have argued in the past it is also my dislike for his style and that he has always tried to (is the term triangle?) triangle the mythical p4p title twice as if it can be done that easily. P4P is a pundit and public opinion achievement; it is abstract. One cannot lay claim to it simply for want of it.

[Khalid X]

He can't take the ponches anymore.

only indicator we have of this is by the bomb Pacquiao dropped on him. But that flush shot drops anyone in boxing. Anyone can go down if they are caught a certain way, and that happens to be the case for Ricky.

[Rastamouse]

I think it's because he has to smash his body into shape during training and over the years this has built up and up. Most fighters "balloon" to an extent but not the way Hatton does.

[hugh grant]

Hatton has says he has been out on his feet earlier in his career as well. But because we werent aware of it because he didnt admit it we thought of him as previously indestructable chin wise. But the possiblity he could be hurt has always been there. Its just he fought Pac.
Hatton could come back and do well against most boxers. Just not against Pac or PBF.

[Rastamouse]

Anyway I still love the Hitman but he should retire unless he fights a shot Oscar...

[Easy-E]

I want an answer from a knowledgeable poster who is a fan of boxing. I mean what fights or what indicates he is a shot fighter? The Floyd fight was competitive until the 8 or 9th round. With Pacquiao he was caught with a shot that would take anyone one out if they got hit flush like that.

I'm just bringing this up because I don't see how losing to the two greatest fighters from the generation makes you shot. Hall of famers like Bird, Dexler, Payton etc have all been dominated by Jordan but that doesn't make them less of a player (as far as b-ball is concerned).

In similar fashion, why is boxing the only sport that if a top athlete gets dominated, or even embarrassed, the sport tries to say they are finished or done? I heard Floyd say this 8-9 years ago, "My job is harder that Kobe's because Kobe is allowed to have an off day. If I have an off day, then people will say my career is over and done."

My question is why is that. Why does boxing put our stars in such a box. IMO this attitude hurts boxing more than anything.

I believe him being shot is not completly physical, but thee are some elements of that. Obviously with the Mayweather and Pac KO's, he has obvious chin issues. In addition I think with his age, his lifestyle has caught up to him. He often balloons to 170-175 in between fights due to his affinity for drinking and eating, and lack discipline. When he tries to make weight it will sap his endurance and energy, I think that is what happened in the Pac fight.
Most importantly though, he is shot mentally. What made Ricky Hatton great was not only his suffocating style, but his confidence that maybe he actully was the best fighter in the world. When he lost to Floyd, alot of that confidence and mental toughness was lost. Then getting blown out by Pac...he gained about 40 pounds and looks undisciplined and unmotivated.

[Sugar Jay]

2 Losses by vicious knockouts.

You want to belive those KOs meant nothing but after getting KTFO like that twice at his age, his careers is pretty much done.

Boxing is a mental game, if your mind set isnt right you cant compete at a high level, so you honestly belive after being KOd like that, his mind is in the right place?

[Ether]

He's been overrated from the beginning and the Mayweather fight just showed he truly was a C class fighter. Pacquiao beat him even worse, look how hesistant and cautious Hatton is at choosing opponents now lol. Except he thinks he has a chance against Marquez or washed up Oscar.