Hatton - Ring Magazine Fighter of 2005

[BlueBlazer]

I remember the American's saying that Hatton was a fraud a couple of years ago, saying things like "We were told that 2000 was going to be the year of the Hitman, then that 2001 was going to be the year of the Hitman, then that 2002 was going to be the year of te Hitman, then that 2003 was going to be the year of the Hitman.. face it Limey's, Hatton is a fraud", etc. But now, 2005 WAS the year of the Hitman

[MickyHatton]

I remember the American's saying that Hatton was a fraud a couple of years ago, saying things like "We were told that 2000 was going to be the year of the Hitman, then that 2001 was going to be the year of the Hitman, then that 2002 was going to be the year of te Hitman, then that 2003 was going to be the year of the Hitman.. face it Limey's, Hatton is a fraud", etc. But now, 2005 WAS the year of the Hitman

There are still many who don't rate Hatton who post on here!

Hatton should have the hearts of all true boxing fans because he brings honesty, integrity and committment to the ring, he never bad mouths his opponents and is a grounded man of the people, he knows that he must fight in the states to jump the last hurdle and is doing so.

As for the odd comment about him being a dirty fighter, all I'll say is if you think he is dirty then you haven't watched him fight enough, he is committed, this means if his is being repeatedly fouled and unprotected then he will rough house back, if you watch the Tsyzu and Maussa fights you will see his opponents foul him repeatedly before he reacts, take off the rose coloured specs and you may see!

Bring on Hatton and Mayweather, two great fighters who deserve the oportunity to shine!

[moy22487]

There are still many who don't rate Hatton who post on here!

Hatton should have the hearts of all true boxing fans because he brings honesty, integrity and committment to the ring, he never bad mouths his opponents and is a grounded man of the people, he knows that he must fight in the states to jump the last hurdle and is doing so.

As for the odd comment about him being a dirty fighter, all I'll say is if you think he is dirty then you haven't watched him fight enough, he is committed, this means if his is being repeatedly fouled and unprotected then he will rough house back, if you watch the Tsyzu and Maussa fights you will see his opponents foul him repeatedly before he reacts, take off the rose coloured specs and you may see!

Bring on Hatton and Mayweather, two great fighters who deserve the oportunity to shine!

your right hatton is a good guy looks like a real good sport. much respect for him altho i think he is going to be taking a majore step up in compatition when he comes to USA

[RiverCityMike]

I was a doubter but not a hater until the Tszyu fight. I knew that Hatton would give any fighter trouble with his pressure, good combinations and power, what I was unsure about was his chin and defense. The Tszyu fight proved to me that Hatton can take a hell of a lick if he has to but can also avoid it. He is a very subtle fighter really. Everything he does, at first glance, seems so savage and done with abandon, yet it is very calculated and you see the formula when you pay enough attention. He's not real fancy, but I wouldn't like him if he were.

[MickyHatton]

I was a doubter but not a hater until the Tszyu fight. I knew that Hatton would give any fighter trouble with his pressure, good combinations and power, what I was unsure about was his chin and defense. The Tszyu fight proved to me that Hatton can take a hell of a lick if he has to but can also avoid it. He is a very subtle fighter really. Everything he does, at first glance, seems so savage and done with abandon, yet it is very calculated and you see the formula when you pay enough attention. He's not real fancy, but I wouldn't like him if he were.

Well said, his skills are subtle but if you understand the sport you will appreciate them, thats why I'm shocked that a lot of predominately American posters have doubted him, I would have thought that he would have been ideal for the aggressive American market?

[RiverCityMike]

Well said, his skills are subtle but if you understand the sport you will appreciate them, thats why I'm shocked that a lot of predominately American posters have doubted him, I would have thought that he would have been ideal for the aggressive American market?

I'm a yank, obviously, and while I might have doubted how Hatton would do vs Tszyu or Mitchell etc while he was mostly fighting opponents I'd never seen, I never missed a fight aired in the US. Hatton will sell tickets here to fight fans, that is for certain. And these days with everyone hugging Floyd's nuts for beating Gatti (lol), they'll definitely pay to see that if it comes off.

[BlueBlazer]

Hatton's reputation in the amateurs was actually the COMPLETE OPPOSITE to a pressure fighter! When all the other kids would go straight in throwing loads of leather, it was young Ricky that would be the one-off to step back and have a look and actually pick his shots. At 12 years old, Ricky started punching to the body on his own accord - nobody told him to. At a young age, Ricky was doing things that other kids his age wouldn't, Ricky was very mature for his age when coming through the ranks.

Rumour has it that Ricky Hatton was probably the most skillful footballer at the FA School of Excellence with the ball at his feet, he'd always been a right-winger since he was a young kid but Man City were trying to convert him into a role just behind the strikers in 1994 but, in the end, Ricky chose boxing over football.. Man City rang him up in 1996 and told him that he could be the "English Georgi Kinkladze" if he wanted to be - Ricky hadn't played football for two years so he must of been damn good to still be in their plans/hopes! He showed plenty of nice footwork in the amateurs, always bouncing on his feet and his mind always alert, and he picked his shots well. He was also really quick little ****er back then, but he started using weights in 2001 and has gradually slowed down more and more.. as far as I'm concerned that was a huge mistake using weights because he's actually getting slower. In the amateurs and at the start of his pro career, Ricky looked much quicker than he does now.