Hatton - beyond massive!

[Wales]

Malinaggis in the top ten, are you saying Hatton would be vunerable against him.

I appreciate the KO was bad, but any worse than, say, Macklins against Moore? Or Duran v Hearns?

Also, where is the evidence hatton "no longer take a shot" ? He was hit by the p4p #1 on the planet, who is known for his fearsome punching. He got caught, early & badly, so what? Fighters all over the world come back from bad knockouts, he was at the MGM grand casino the next day, not in some hospital bed drining through a straw.

[Wales]

when did jim mcdonnell get ko'd by vanzie.it was kenny vice,in a sickening knockout,straight after a brutal 12 rounder witht the great azumah nelson,and he still boxed again after that!to me,its all abou the state rick gets into between fights.fair enough,if he'd had 18 months out or so,but its been barely 3 months.the body just cant take it anymore

No idea where Vanzie comes into it, had that name in my head after reading b'chats post. My bad. :(

[dondada]

Rick should retire. He cannot defeat elite level fighters, not anymore. He could pick up a belt here and there, but at what risk and for so little reward? He's already got a collection of belts, one more won't add anything. Makes no sense.

He is almost unique in that he has guaranteed money coming in which doesn't involve getting punched - will be getting paid £3000 plus per night for as many nights a week as he wants on the after dinner circuit for the rest of his life. He's got a great girl and kid, he don't like training so...

As I've said, unless he can do it properly, don't do it at all.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

But, making Tzsyu quit, KOing WBA champ Maussa, jumping up and eeking out win for welterweight title, KOing Corrales, beating Paulie so easy, beating future title holders... a career to be proud of. No shame in losing to Mayweather... or Pac-Man when he was shot to bits. .

Must missed that 1 D

[jamesmcdonnell]

Rick should retire. He cannot defeat elite level fighters, not anymore. He could pick up a belt here and there, but at what risk and for so little reward? He's already got a collection of belts, one more won't add anything. Makes no sense.

He is almost unique in that he has guaranteed money coming in which doesn't involve getting punched - will be getting paid £3000 plus per night for as many nights a week as he wants on the after dinner circuit for the rest of his life. He's got a great girl and kid, he don't like training so...

He was, for me, best UK fighter since Lennox Lewis. He wasted some of his prime (2003, 2004) fighting also-rans when he could have been winning world titles and I am sure that he could have beaten another elite level fighter had he not cut short that prime with his eating and drinking excesses.

But, making Tzsyu quit, KOing WBA champ Maussa, jumping up and eeking out win for welterweight title, KOing Corrales, beating Paulie so easy, beating future title holders... a career to be proud of. No shame in losing to Mayweather... or Pac-Man when he was shot to bits.

He did more than Joe C, in my view, although I know others strongly disagree.

I think Calzaghe was the more talented, and his best wins over Lacy and Kessler show that level of talent, I think he beat both men easily and within himself.

Ricky however seemed to want it a bit more, but lest we forget, Ricky fought a lot of no hopers before he finally fought his way up to Kostya Tszyu. Once he got there however, he made a much better job of it.

You can make a case for either man, they both have their merits, and both are in the top 20 british fighters of all time. On talent however, Calzaghe rates probably top 10 for me.

[n1ebf]

yes we all know that blows up between fights but there is a picture in todays MEN that isnt in there on line edition and eff me the guy is like a balloon.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... ons_sights

i think Mayweather beats Hatton wearing 16oz sparring gloves and an eye patch over one eye. It won't happen, and it shouldn't.

[DG.]

Malinaggis in the top ten, are you saying Hatton would be vunerable against him.

I appreciate the KO was bad, but any worse than, say, Macklins against Moore? Or Duran v Hearns?

Also, where is the evidence hatton "no longer take a shot" ? He was hit by the p4p #1 on the planet, who is known for his fearsome punching. He got caught, early & badly, so what? Fighters all over the world come back from bad knockouts, he was at the MGM grand casino the next day, not in some hospital bed drining through a straw.

Hattons knockout was on a par with Jackson Vs Bomber.

Once of the worst knock out I have seen!

[DG.]

yes we all know that blows up between fights but there is a picture in todays MEN that isnt in there on line edition and eff me the guy is like a balloon.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... ons_sights

i think Mayweather beats Hatton wearing 16oz sparring gloves and an eye patch over one eye. It won't happen, and it shouldn't.

Do not be so pathetic!

He can beat Hatton with 160z gloves and an eye patch?

He can beat Hatton with 240z gloves and two eye patches AND with Micky Vann as the ref!

[opticald]

I don't see why Hatton shouldn't fight again. Is this on the basis that he is shot? He would have got the same treatment from Pacman at any point in his career. He was looking "back to his best" against Malignaggi not too long ago? I don't think Hatton is shot, he just went in there and made the same mistakes that got him dropped and hurt against Magee, hanging on against Collazo and Lazcano, buzzed by Philips and Tackie. Even in the Maussa fight he was taking lots of punches and Urango had him hurt by a body shot. Mayweather played with him and had target practise at several points in rounds 4, 8 and 10. He went in and did what he usually does and Pacman made him pay. Even though Hatton looked "back to his best" against Malignaggi, Roach knew what the story was with Hatton, 3 rounds he said.

I think Hatton should fight on and a Bradley fight is winnable, although he'd probably lose that one. Alexander beats him pretty easily as does this version of Khan, and they always would have imo.

[liamlion]

I appreciate the KO was bad, but any worse than, say, Macklins against Moore?...

In the context of things, psychologically I would say yeah, for at least Macklin was competitive and stayed in there until the 10th round, only basically getting nailed through exhaustion... Hatton on the other hand was punched around the ring for 5 minutes and then sparked out. He literally didnt even fight with Pacman, he was blasted out which of course wasnt what happened to Macklin.

Also, where is the evidence hatton "no longer take a shot" ?

The display against Juan Lazcano hardly disproves the assertion that Hatton can no longer hold a punch as well as he used to.

[Khaosai-Galaxy]

So, Ricky Hatton gets heavy between fights?

Stay tuned to the boxrec forum where we have a late, breaking, report that Richard Nixon has resigned as president of the United States...

[states]

K-G that's going to bug some people.

[tinytim]

Hope hatton does come back, as I'd love to see him get knocked out again

[Poncey]

K-G that's going to bug some people.

Doubtful. Most of us on here hate Nixon.

[Wales]

I appreciate the KO was bad, but any worse than, say, Macklins against Moore?...

In the context of things, psychologically I would say yeah, for at least Macklin was competitive and stayed in there until the 10th round, only basically getting nailed through exhaustion... Hatton on the other hand was punched around the ring for 5 minutes and then sparked out. He literally didnt even fight with Pacman, he was blasted out which of course wasnt what happened to Macklin.

Also, where is the evidence hatton "no longer take a shot" ?

The display against Juan Lazcano hardly disproves the assertion that Hatton can no longer hold a punch as well as he used to.

So were talking psychological damage to Hatton because of the KO and not physical now. Well, at the sports top level you have to always believe you are unbeatable and I dont see why Hatton wouldnt believe that if he were back in with a world class, and not eliete, level operator at 140lbs. I think most on here are talking about the physical damage that type of KO has done to be honest.

Against Lazcano Hatton proved that his defence was, as we all knew anyway, shaky. You say he cant hold a shot but at no point did he go down or really look like going down. His legs stiffened once, i think, and dipped maybe once. Hardly reeling all over the place when caught flush by the Mexican. At the end of the day if you leave your chin out to dry, and get clocked, you're going to get hurt. Im not so sure his punch resistance has gone, are you saying in his prime he wouldve shaken off those shots from pac?

[jamesmcdonnell]

I appreciate the KO was bad, but any worse than, say, Macklins against Moore?...

In the context of things, psychologically I would say yeah, for at least Macklin was competitive and stayed in there until the 10th round, only basically getting nailed through exhaustion... Hatton on the other hand was punched around the ring for 5 minutes and then sparked out. He literally didnt even fight with Pacman, he was blasted out which of course wasnt what happened to Macklin.

Also, where is the evidence hatton "no longer take a shot" ?

The display against Juan Lazcano hardly disproves the assertion that Hatton can no longer hold a punch as well as he used to.

So were talking psychological damage to Hatton because of the KO and not physical now. Well, at the sports top level you have to always believe you are unbeatable and I dont see why Hatton wouldnt believe that if he were back in with a world class, and not eliete, level operator at 140lbs. I think most on here are talking about the physical damage that type of KO has done to be honest.

Against Lazcano Hatton proved that his defence was, as we all knew anyway, shaky. You say he cant hold a shot but at no point did he go down or really look like going down. His legs stiffened once, i think, and dipped maybe once. Hardly reeling all over the place when caught flush by the Mexican. At the end of the day if you leave your chin out to dry, and get clocked, you're going to get hurt. Im not so sure his punch resistance has gone, are you saying in his prime he wouldve shaken off those shots from pac?

What I will say is that he took absolute peaches off of Tszyu, huge full blown right hands that had felled other men, and just walked through it.

Now that may be an effect of the psychological and adrenalin boost from fighting for the proper title, or it could also be that he saw those shots coming, and didn't see Pacquaio's hooks, but Hatton did go down very quickly against Pacman.

It's hard to be sure.

[Wales]

I think a combination of pacmans accuracy, speed (not seeing them coming) and the fact Hatton was caught within the first minute and hadnt waremd at all took its toll. Also, something nobody we'll never know, did the 35 year old inactive Tszyu hit anywhere near as hard as the prime Tszyu?

Like you say, we'll never know.

Dont get me wrong, Im not proffessing that Ricky hatton has ever been as good as he was against Kostya Tszyu, that was his time, his biggest performance. I just dont buy this "he's shot" malarkley.

[DavidPayne]

Hatton peaked in the 18 months before Tsyzu. The Tszyu fight was an overdue step up.

He was 26 then. He should have been higher at least a year earlier.

He got Tsyzu at just the right time, but there were other leading contenders he could have been fighting.

[Wales]

Gatti, at the time, wouldve been an awesome scalp. I believe Ricky wouldve beaten him, and Arturo was very well thought of around then. Sharmba Mitchell after he (Mitchell) won on rickys undercard too, another name that wouldve been right name right time. Hatton wouldve beaten him handily.

As it happens Gatti was shown to be flattered by warrior perrformances by Mayweather around the same time as Hatton fought Tszyu in 2005. And Mitchell was mullered by kostya in nov of 2004. Rickys team could've "easily" made winnable fights with those two in 2004.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Gatti, at the time, wouldve been an awesome scalp. I believe Ricky wouldve beaten him, and Arturo was very well thought of around then. Sharmba Mitchell after he (Mitchell) won on rickys undercard too, another name that wouldve been right name right time. Hatton wouldve beaten him handily.

As it happens Gatti was shown to be flattered by warrior perrformances by Mayweather around the same time as Hatton fought Tszyu in 2005. And Mitchell was mullered by kostya in nov of 2004. Rickys team could've "easily" made winnable fights with those two in 2004.

It seemed that either Ricky or Franky wanted no part of Mitchell at all - I remember the extremely vocal criticism by Gary Shaw of main events over Ricky's failure to meet Mitchell.

I don't remember Gatti's name being mentioned at all - perhaps Gatti himself wasn't interested. Wasn't gatti at lightweight at that point?

[jamesmcdonnell]

Hatton peaked in the 18 months before Tsyzu. The Tszyu fight was an overdue step up.

He was 26 then. He should have been higher at least a year earlier.

He got Tsyzu at just the right time, but there were other leading contenders he could have been fighting.

I agree, Hatton was a lot quicker and more flexible prior to the Tszyu fight and those beyond it.

[stujones]

Harris and Mitchell would have been good fights. Although the Harris one might have caused problems with him securing the main man in Tszyu - he would have been out of the IBF rankings.

Mitchell of course would have enhanced that.

Gatti was a Light Welter at that stage... and what a fight it would have been, tough to call.

James, I'll agree to disagree that Calzaghe EASILY beat Kessler. Even if you think Calzaghe won clear (which I don't, but know many who do) - I think Calzaghe was not fighting within himself in anyway... Kessler gave him fits. Lacy - again I don't think Joe fought within himself (he was at 100%) but he could have afforded to and still won a shut out.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Harris and Mitchell would have been good fights. Although the Harris one might have caused problems with him securing the main man in Tszyu - he would have been out of the IBF rankings.

Mitchell of course would have enhanced that.

Gatti was a Light Welter at that stage... and what a fight it would have been, tough to call.

James, I'll agree to disagree that Calzaghe EASILY beat Kessler. Even if you think Calzaghe won clear (which I don't, but know many who do) - I think Calzaghe was not fighting within himself in anyway... Kessler gave him fits. Lacy - again I don't think Joe fought within himself (he was at 100%) but he could have afforded to and still won a shut out.

Ok, let's put it this way then, I thought Calzaghe was always in control of the bout, at no point did it look to me like Kessler was taking over. Sure, Kessler gave Jo fits, but everyone expected him to - he was considered a future great at the weight at the time, and Joe was coming to the end of a long and injury prone career. I never thought the fight was in doubt myself.

I also think Gatti would have been a very tough fight - he had a great chin, good workrate,

People thought after he was humiliated by mayweather, that Gatti was overrated - but then look what happened to Hatton. Gatti was clearly intimidated by Mayweather and massively underperformed - he barely threw a punch and tried to outbox the boxer which was madness. Hatton blew his top and got annihilated. What's the difference?

One thing is for sure, Hatton would have certainly gotten some stick back from Gatti, and Gatti had more skills than the likes of Maussa who gave Hatton some scares along the way.

[stujones]

I still disagree on the Kessler - I thought it was very close, and I did think Kessler controlled it early - just my take.

Agree with everything about Gatti... fast hands, power, workrate, chin - would have given Hatton problems. I really think he would have given Tszyu problems aswell. Gatti definately bottled it against Mayweather, remember Billy Graham stating that Gatti called Hatton 24 hours before the bout asking "how do I beat him" - if thats true then it shows Gatti had major doubts.

Must remember that was his last bout at Light Welter, so from then on it was hard to get it on with Gatti... although given Hatton had a similar dilemna to Gatti (monster at Light Welter, too small for Welter) - then it would have still been a good fight at 147... cause Gatti wasn't completely done post Mayweather, he looked good for a time against Baldomir - just too small.

Damn, actually feeling emotional typing this to think he is now dead.

[Wrists]

I would not use the word EASILY to describe how Calzaghe beat Kessler as in the first 4 rounds he was nailed with some solid shots, I think HANDILY is a better description.

However, to describe the fight as 'close' is bordering on ridiculous.

Kessler won 2 out of the first 4 rounds and round 12 - thats it.

The Lacy fight was the finest performance from a British fighter in 25 years

If you listen to the HBO commentary of the fight Manny Steward waxes lyrical about Calzaghe's performance and I would take his word over a lot of people on here.

Calzaghe is easily (bar Hamed) the most talented British fighter of the last 30 years and if he had just a bit more 'dog f u c k' he would have been even greater.

For me he is all time top 5 British Pfp easily.

Hatton, less talent but more guts etc etc