Ricky Hattin: hypocrite?

[Lenny]

I'm not totally sold on his boy next door, man of the people image however. The adulation and fame has (perhaps inevitably) definitely changed his personality for the worse. His drinking and drug taking I don't have a massive issue with. Plenty of people are and have been seduced by that lifestyle. It's more the treatment of Billy Graham, delusions he has that he was on the same level as Mayweather and Pacquiao and these references in the third person that annoy me.

Hatton's "just one of you" image was damaged beyond repair when he started ripping off fans with ticket prices

[stujones]

He's clearly been a world class fighter in the past although for me not at the very elite level. I'm going to his comeback fight in November but I'd be surprised if he can get back to anything near his peak and would expect him to struggle with Senchenko, albeit probably pull out a win.

I'm not totally sold on his boy next door, man of the people image however. The adulation and fame has (perhaps inevitably) definitely changed his personality for the worse. His drinking and drug taking I don't have a massive issue with. Plenty of people are and have been seduced by that lifestyle. It's more the treatment of Billy Graham, delusions he has that he was on the same level as Mayweather and Pacquiao and these references in the third person that annoy me.

I can understand all that, the "I'm just a regular guy like you" thing, or the seeming effort to portray himself that way always bugged me a bit, be it by him or other athletes.

But here again, I'm just going back to (many, I know you aren't a uniform group as Brits) being really hard on the guy,only speaking career wise. I don't know how you get to be the 140 champion of the world, beating Kostya Tszyu, without being "truly" elite.I know he was a step below Pac and Mayweather, but who isn't?

If I go on the Aussie board, it would be like seeing many of the people there slagging off Tszyu, I know that situation is a bit different, but still. Or it would be like many Americans on the board trying to discredit Andre Ward or Filippinos talking badly about Donaire, or Mexicans talking badly about JMM,etc...

I can't see that happening, or not a lot anyway. You guys seem to have a very high standard. The moment someone loses, or says or does something publicly, or doesn't face a HOF fighter in every title defence, or....well, retires, he's screwed. British fighters can't seem to win, ultimately, with the fans. You're damned one way or the other. I've noticed it in Football as well.

Having pub chats with friends about Hatton - I think his style has a lot to do with people not rating him. Because he marks up so easily and hasn't had the head movement when he steps up it seems like people will slate him.

Sure he is no Floyd Mayweather, but it seems like people don't view how exceptional his footwork is in other aspects - he weight distribution when going for the body. Again because he rarely comes in off a jab people seem to disregard his speed, but it was exception. He showed it in a different way to Calzaghe and Mayweather but he was still an incredibly fast boxer.

When I talked about Hatton they call him an over achiever (achieved far more than his talent should have allowed him), they would call Joe Calzaghe an under achiever (had more talent than his achievement).... and when I ask the question who had most talent, I've yet to hear a single person say Hatton..... I aint so sure myself, Ricky had different attributes to his game.

[Hitmanhicky]

as a massive Hatton fan im obviously biased so some people may feel the need to switch off. I grew up watching the guy and have always been an admirer of him. Every person makes mistakes, its just the people in the public eye who get more stick for it than us regular folk. I can understand the whole 3rd person talk as 'Ricky Hatton' is a brand and therefore hes just used to promoting himself this way i guess, other fighters do it the same.

I dont think hes ever said he was as good as Floyd or pacquaio although atleast he tried. He is still one of, if not THE biggest draw in boxing even after 4 or so years out of the ring. 18k tickets sold out even before an opponent was named, ive never seen that happen before. I wish him all the best and hope everyone will watch him november 24th

[flatnoseflynn]

I'm a Hatton fan. But just seen him on the news, training on the pads? WTF! looks like he has slowed right down! Surprised :surprised: on how much! He looks a totally different boxer. Will be intersting to see how much he has actually lost it. Good luck Ricky.

[Counter-puncher]

He's clearly been a world class fighter in the past although for me not at the very elite level. I'm going to his comeback fight in November but I'd be surprised if he can get back to anything near his peak and would expect him to struggle with Senchenko, albeit probably pull out a win.

I'm not totally sold on his boy next door, man of the people image however. The adulation and fame has (perhaps inevitably) definitely changed his personality for the worse. His drinking and drug taking I don't have a massive issue with. Plenty of people are and have been seduced by that lifestyle. It's more the treatment of Billy Graham, delusions he has that he was on the same level as Mayweather and Pacquiao and these references in the third person that annoy me.

I can understand all that, the "I'm just a regular guy like you" thing, or the seeming effort to portray himself that way always bugged me a bit, be it by him or other athletes.

But here again, I'm just going back to (many, I know you aren't a uniform group as Brits) being really hard on the guy,only speaking career wise. I don't know how you get to be the 140 champion of the world, beating Kostya Tszyu, without being "truly" elite.I know he was a step below Pac and Mayweather, but who isn't?

If I go on the Aussie board, it would be like seeing many of the people there slagging off Tszyu, I know that situation is a bit different, but still. Or it would be like many Americans on the board trying to discredit Andre Ward or Filippinos talking badly about Donaire, or Mexicans talking badly about JMM,etc...

I can't see that happening, or not a lot anyway. You guys seem to have a very high standard. The moment someone loses, or says or does something publicly, or doesn't face a HOF fighter in every title defence, or....well, retires, he's screwed. British fighters can't seem to win, ultimately, with the fans. You're damned one way or the other. I've noticed it in Football as well.

Having pub chats with friends about Hatton - I think his style has a lot to do with people not rating him. Because he marks up so easily and hasn't had the head movement when he steps up it seems like people will slate him.

Sure he is no Floyd Mayweather, but it seems like people don't view how exceptional his footwork is in other aspects - he weight distribution when going for the body. Again because he rarely comes in off a jab people seem to disregard his speed, but it was exception. He showed it in a different way to Calzaghe and Mayweather but he was still an incredibly fast boxer.

When I talked about Hatton they call him an over achiever (achieved far more than his talent should have allowed him), they would call Joe Calzaghe an under achiever (had more talent than his achievement).... and when I ask the question who had most talent, I've yet to hear a single person say Hatton..... I aint so sure myself, Ricky had different attributes to his game.

good point Stu on Hatton's feet, he had very under-rated footspeed. he had what the yanks in other sports call 'closing speed', he could often close the distance much quicker than his opponent was expecting, the knockdown of Collazzo was related to this as it was probably when he caught Floyd off-balance.

[stujones]

good point Stu on Hatton's feet, he had very under-rated footspeed. he had what the yanks in other sports call 'closing speed', he could often close the distance much quicker than his opponent was expecting, the knockdown of Collazzo was related to this as it was probably when he caught Floyd off-balance.

Yeah, and the way he would shift his balance to get maximum power in those body shots.... its a special talent to do it as quickly and effectively as Ricky. If it wasn't then everyone would be scoring the concussive body knockouts.