SKY Anytime - Replaying Hatton v Pacman, Magglinaggi

[DavidPayne]

Watched the Pacman fight again last night. In hindsight, I have to feel enormous sympathy for Hatton.

He walked out, all but knowing he was ill-prepared mentally, physically, tactically, his corner was a mess, a shambles for the biggest fight of his life against a fit, in form, ferocious, big-hitting southpaw opponent who had the speed to make him dizzy.

Between rounds he wanted to listen to Lee what-his-face but Mayweather's repute and the omnipresent camera forced him to look at the madman.

It was like a live autopsy on what went wrong in Hatton's career - he earned millions - but he never quite gave himself the best possible chance of victory - and that must gnaw at him.

He's healthy, wealthy and revered but when he's sat on his sofa, he will always wonder.

I've criticised his motives before, but I felt a surge of empathy for his plight last night, something I didn't have at the time.

[tannervegas]

Such a brutal knockout an all

[Mooresy]

Watched the Pacman fight again last night. In hindsight, I have to feel enormous sympathy for Hatton.

He walked out, all but knowing he was ill-prepared mentally, physically, tactically, his corner was a mess, a shambles for the biggest fight of his life against a fit, in form, ferocious, big-hitting southpaw opponent who had the speed to make him dizzy.

Between rounds he wanted to listen to Lee what-his-face but Mayweather's repute and the omnipresent camera forced him to look at the madman.

It was like a live autopsy on what went wrong in Hatton's career - he earned millions - but he never quite gave himself the best possible chance of victory - and that must gnaw at him.

He's healthy, wealthy and revered but when he's sat on his sofa, he will always wonder.

I've criticised his motives before, but I felt a surge of empathy for his plight last night, something I didn't have at the time.

You know what mate, i've just this minute watched it again on anytime, and i thought the exact same thing. But i also know some of the storys from behind the scenes, and watching it back and looking at Ricky's face i couldn't help but think if he watched it back, how would it make him feel.

[DavidPayne]

Watched the Pacman fight again last night. In hindsight, I have to feel enormous sympathy for Hatton.

He walked out, all but knowing he was ill-prepared mentally, physically, tactically, his corner was a mess, a shambles for the biggest fight of his life against a fit, in form, ferocious, big-hitting southpaw opponent who had the speed to make him dizzy.

Between rounds he wanted to listen to Lee what-his-face but Mayweather's repute and the omnipresent camera forced him to look at the madman.

It was like a live autopsy on what went wrong in Hatton's career - he earned millions - but he never quite gave himself the best possible chance of victory - and that must gnaw at him.

He's healthy, wealthy and revered but when he's sat on his sofa, he will always wonder.

I've criticised his motives before, but I felt a surge of empathy for his plight last night, something I didn't have at the time.

You know what mate, i've just this minute watched it again on anytime, and i thought the exact same thing. But i also know some of the storys from behind the scenes, and watching it back and looking at Ricky's face i couldn't help but think if he watched it back, how would it make him feel.

Jamie,
Don't know if he ever has watched it. But there was just a desperate isolation in his face in that corner. I don't the stories, but I get the impression there are many factions, agendas and incidients to be told at some point - but it was chilling seeing Ricky's face between rounds, in the knowledge he was surrounded by strangers, the confusion, the reality, the enormity of the problems he now faced were etched on his face. It was like seeing a wild animal trapped. A dramatic comparison but he looked so helpless.
I'll always wonder what if he'd not wasted two years of his physical prime before the Tszyu fight facing poor opponents what he might have achieved. Probably not the financial reward he did, because it was the unbeaten tag and the 20,000 fans that got him the PBF fight but I wonder whether historically he would have achieved more with a Sharmba Mitchell, Vivian Harris, Junior Witter, Acelino Freitas or Arturo Gatti on his resume.

[Mooresy]

Jamie,
Don't know if he ever has watched it. But there was just a desperate isolation in his face in that corner. I don't the stories, but I get the impression there are many factions, agendas and incidients to be told at some point - but it was chilling seeing Ricky's face between rounds, in the knowledge he was surrounded by strangers, the confusion, the reality, the enormity of the problems he now faced were etched on his face. It was like seeing a wild animal trapped. A dramatic comparison but he looked so helpless.
I'll always wonder what if he'd not wasted two years of his physical prime before the Tszyu fight facing poor opponents what he might have achieved. Probably not the financial reward he did, because it was the unbeaten tag and the 20,000 fans that got him the PBF fight but I wonder whether historically he would have achieved more with a Sharmba Mitchell, Vivian Harris, Junior Witter, Acelino Freitas or Arturo Gatti on his resume.

Maybe, maybe not. I don't think he has any regrets about that. They we're great days and great occasions. Maybe not great opponents all the time, but the fans had the time of there lives during those days and for me that's what it's about. If the fans go home or wake up the next day and go "what a great night, i can't wait for the next one" then for me, it's job done.
I do feel he could have gave a miles better account of himself v's Mayweather(ref) and Pacman, but sadly we'll never know.

[DavidPayne]

True Jamie. He was a fan fighter, even though that line grew a little repetitive and to a certain extent seemed insincere toward the end. It got lost along the way to some extent that it was the event that made Ricky popular, not the opponent.

I think when you discuss boxing as much as guys do on here, every fight, fighter and item of news is dissected to exhaustion its easy to get cynical, to see the cynicism in the actions of fighters, promoters etc.

Fans had great nights at those WBU fights, but Ricky himself was growing tired and bored prior to Kotsya Tsyzu, the Pederson, Vilches and Stewart fights - though the last was the eliminator if I remember correctly - all seemed like cashing in when Ricky clearly looked ready to be let off the leash.

Of course, the fact he retires with his faculties in tact, minted and widely loved is testimony to the job allegedly did and the one Ricky stumbled over the line with, with help from GBP.

[Counter-puncher]

Of course, the fact he retires with his faculties in tact, minted and widely loved is testimony to the job allegedly did and the one Ricky stumbled over the line with, with help from GBP.

nicely put.

I am sure someone on here said as much as the time, but when you see the chaos in the corner, you have to imagine how much more comfortable Hatton would have been with a certain Mr Graham in there.......

[DavidPayne]

I was thinking that too. I know the relationship soured but you do wonder.

[Counter-puncher]

I was thinking that too. I know the relationship soured but you do wonder.

frankly, i hadn't really wondered until your OP above

[markp]

Hatton genuinely thought he could simply overpower Pacman. 30 seconds in, he knew that there were serious problem with that strategy. His talk of being "pound for pound" champ if he beat Pacman was nauseating. He simply was too one dimensional to beat a Pac or Floyd at any point in his career.

[markp]

It was like seeing a wild animal trapped.

Great analogy. Hatton did look very surprised. I'm sure he was absolutely shocked by what happened and one can only imagine what thoughts were going through his mind at that point. One thing was clear, he wasn't listening to anyone.

[mickey1975]

Hatton genuinely thought he could simply overpower Pacman. 30 seconds in, he knew that there were serious problem with that strategy. His talk of being "pound for pound" champ if he beat Pacman was nauseating. He simply was too one dimensional to beat a Pac or Floyd at any point in his career.

It wasnt nauseating.He beat KT who was a genuine top 10 p4p.Maybe Ricky wasnt ever going to beat the very best,but he was entitled to think he had a chance.

[JamesH]

Hatton genuinely thought he could simply overpower Pacman. 30 seconds in, he knew that there were serious problem with that strategy. His talk of being "pound for pound" champ if he beat Pacman was nauseating. He simply was too one dimensional to beat a Pac or Floyd at any point in his career.

It wasnt nauseating.He beat KT who was a genuine top 10 p4p.Maybe Ricky wasnt ever going to beat the very best,but he was entitled to think he had a chance.

I don't think it was the idea of him thinking he could do it that markp and others found nauseating, it was the way he constantly tried to convince people that p4p was some sort of linear title and he would be the best p4p fighter by beating Pacman, which he wouldn't have. If Pacman dropped a place, it would just go to the next in the list, and that wasnt or would never have been Hatton.

Fair play to him though, most of us would swap careers with him and now he seems to making a real go of the promotions game. Good luck to him...

[Barker]

There’s only one Audley Harrison...

[Barber]

[Barber]