BoxRec

You've got to look at it from his perspective though, is it about pleasing the fans or looking after number 1? I doubt he cares that people don't like the fact he never fought Junior Witter, he's fought some big names both domestically and internationally, won some and lost some, fought in front of massive crowds, headlined cards in Las Vegas and seems pretty well respected by plenty of fans, boxers and boxing journalists worldwide.

Hatton‘s popularity was phenomenal. That local lad done good angle worked a treat.

He's a jack the lad

He had a good career.

For me he was never the same after the Tszyu win - That was his pinnacle.

Stuarty wrote: ↑23 Feb 2018, 08:01

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑23 Feb 2018, 03:18 great fighter with a very good career. I think he paid the price for chasing mayweather up to welterweight. Lost a lot of a advantages doing so, should have stayed at LWW after the Tszyu fight. That said his KO of Castillo was one of his career highlights.

Was Cotto a LWW at that time? would have been a great fight.

At that time I fancied Hatton strongly against Cotto. Another good fight that got away unfortunately.

Thought cotto was a beast at light welter, probably his optimum. Great fight ifvit had happened.

Ricky touches on the witter fight in his book. Not exactly dismissive of his chances if i remember rightly. Certainly knew it was a tough fight for him, but he just didnt need him.

TheLeprechaun wrote: ↑22 Feb 2018, 20:13
I'm not sure I'd pick him in his prime over Terry Flanagan and even Jack Catterall.

Ridiculous comment.

Especially considering you are not a troll.

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 15:08 Ricky touches on the witter fight in his book. Not exactly dismissive of his chances if i remember rightly. Certainly knew it was a tough fight for him, but he just didnt need him.

It would have been his 2nd best win (depending on when he fought him) and would have significantly enhanced his legacy.

Horse wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 15:11

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 15:08 Ricky touches on the witter fight in his book. Not exactly dismissive of his chances if i remember rightly. Certainly knew it was a tough fight for him, but he just didnt need him.

It would have been his 2nd best win (depending on when he fought him) and would have significantly enhanced his legacy.

Not arguing there. Like i said, ricky was honest enough to say it was a hard fight he felt he didnt need. Personally think he would have stopped him, but we'll never know.

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 15:04

Stuarty wrote: ↑23 Feb 2018, 08:01

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑23 Feb 2018, 03:18 great fighter with a very good career. I think he paid the price for chasing mayweather up to welterweight. Lost a lot of a advantages doing so, should have stayed at LWW after the Tszyu fight. That said his KO of Castillo was one of his career highlights.

Was Cotto a LWW at that time? would have been a great fight.

At that time I fancied Hatton strongly against Cotto. Another good fight that got away unfortunately.

Thought cotto was a beast at light welter, probably his optimum. Great fight ifvit had happened.

I just don't see Ricky beating Cotto at 140 or 147 I'm afraid

Horse wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 15:11

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 15:08 Ricky touches on the witter fight in his book. Not exactly dismissive of his chances if i remember rightly. Certainly knew it was a tough fight for him, but he just didnt need him.

It would have been his 2nd best win (depending on when he fought him) and would have significantly enhanced his legacy.

No it wouldn’t.

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 15:42Not arguing there. Like i said, ricky was honest enough to say it was a hard fight he felt he didnt need. Personally think he would have stopped him, but we'll never know.

I'd have favoured Hatton as well, but unfortunately Hatton chose the more cynical and boring path.

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 16:04No it wouldn’t.

It wouldn't have been his 2nd best win (at Witter's peak)?

Or it wouldn't have significantly enhanced his legacy?

Horse wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 16:15

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 16:04No it wouldn’t.

It wouldn't have been his 2nd best win (at Witter's peak)?

Or it wouldn't have significantly enhanced his legacy?

It wouldn’t have significantly enhanced his legacy. It would have been a rubbish fight and Witter would have been extremely negative while losing on points.

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 16:17It wouldn’t have significantly enhanced his legacy. It would have been a rubbish fight and Witter would have been extremely negative while losing on points.

So you think that it might well have been Hatton's 2nd best win?

Horse wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 16:18

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 16:17It wouldn’t have significantly enhanced his legacy. It would have been a rubbish fight and Witter would have been extremely negative while losing on points.

So you think that it might well have been Hatton's 2nd best win?

No I don’t think it would. So I suppose I should have said ‘both’.

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 16:24No I don’t think it would. So I suppose I should have said ‘both’.

Which of Hatton's wins do you consider to be his 2nd best win?

Horse wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 16:26

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 16:24No I don’t think it would. So I suppose I should have said ‘both’.

Which of Hatton's wins do you consider to be his 2nd best win?

Not sure, but I’d rate Castillo, Collazo & Malignaggi over Witter, so I guess any one of those.

ewenhay wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 16:02

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 15:04

Stuarty wrote: ↑23 Feb 2018, 08:01

At that time I fancied Hatton strongly against Cotto. Another good fight that got away unfortunately.

Thought cotto was a beast at light welter, probably his optimum. Great fight ifvit had happened.

I just don't see Ricky beating Cotto at 140 or 147 I'm afraid

I could see him beating the Cotto of 2006 at 140 who looked like he was struggling to make weight not a certainty by any means.

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 16:32Not sure, but I’d rate Castillo, Collazo & Malignaggi over Witter, so I guess any one of those.

Well, I'd disagree with that.

Witter was his main rival throughout his career and he ducked him.

That does affect his legacy and it will never be forgotten.

Apart from the fact that his general fitness may have suffered from the lifestyle he lived between fights, I think Hatton got the absolute most out of his ability, if not over-achieved slightly. He was not quite the same fighter up at 147 and it’s a shame - as others have said - that he spent so long defending the WBU but then that did help build his fan base...

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 16:32

Horse wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 16:26

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 16:24No I don’t think it would. So I suppose I should have said ‘both’.

Which of Hatton's wins do you consider to be his 2nd best win?

Not sure, but I’d rate Castillo, Collazo & Malignaggi over Witter, so I guess any one of those.

Witter gets underrated because of his style, I think he’d have given Hatton a tricky night...

chinarich wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 17:05 Apart from the fact that his general fitness may have suffered from the lifestyle he lived between fights, I think Hatton got the absolute most out of his ability, if not over-achieved slightly. He was not quite the same fighter up at 147 and it’s a shame - as others have said - that he spent so long defending the WBU but then that did help build his fan base...

I disagree. He had the ability to get much better wins at 140 lbs as champion.

Maybe I'm overrating him, but I think he was overly cynical and far too willing to pick the weakest acceptable opponent repeatedly during his reign.

He had what it took to beat the best at his weight, but he was willing to just take on any top 10 opponent that his fans would turn up to watch him against.

Horse wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 16:36

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 16:32Not sure, but I’d rate Castillo, Collazo & Malignaggi over Witter, so I guess any one of those.

Well, I'd disagree with that.

Witter was his main rival throughout his career and he ducked him.

That does affect his legacy and it will never be forgotten.

No he didn't duck him and not facing Witter definitely doesn't affect his legacy in any shape or form. And only you will not forget.

You make it sound like Witter was some Mike McCallum type fighter. In truth he could and did stink the place out on many occasions

Hatton had bigger fish to fry plain and simple.

SticknMove wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 17:12No he didn't duck him and not facing Witter definitely doesn't affect his legacy in any shape or form. And only you will not forget.

He did duck him and it does affect his legacy.

SticknMove wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 17:12You make it sound like Witter was some Mike McCallum type fighter. In truth he could and did stink the place out on many occasions

Nope. Awful comment.

SticknMove wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 17:12Hatton had bigger fish to fry plain and simple.

Except that he didn't fry bigger fish. He fought trash like Lazcano, Urango and Maussa.

Hatton's record is going to age badly and ducking Witter will affect how he will be considered negatively.