BoxRec

I've always been a Ricky Hatton doubter, not really thinking that he would have what it takes when it came to the crunch and he faced a real world-class fighter. I picked Tszyu to win in nine last night, with a clinical performance.

However, full credit to Ricky, he's won me over. We're lucky enough to have a fighter on our hands who can mix it with the best in the world. I still get the feeling that Mayweather would have his number and, funnily enough, Witter having chances, but I can see Ricky beating a fighter like Cotto. Whatever, I can only admire the way Ricky handled himself last night and proved to he doubters, including me, that he belongs amongst the top fighters around today.

To be fair to us Doubting Thomases, and that's most of us, until last night we'd never seen Hatton in with an elite level opponent, a truly top fighter. Until you've seen how a fighter looks in with that kind of opposition you have to have doubts, because 9 out of 10 fighters do fall at the final hurdle. As it transpires Ricky is one of 1 in 10 that don't, but there was only one way to find out.

It's a shame Mayweather already has Gatti booked out this summer because Ricky could really shine against the ever-popular Arturo. But there is still plenty of good fights out there for the rest of this year.

Hatton-Gatti is a natural fight and i hope it happens, Gatti is a warrior and a popular fighter and i think it would be a great name on Hatton's record should he win which i think he would. Gatti's warrior like mentality and popularity have exalted him to a rather higher status than is perhaps deserved IMO. He had some life and death struggles with Mickey Ward who was never the most technically refined in the world, Oscar De La Hoya dealt with him well inside five rounds and his latest wins over Dorin, Branco and Lleija are good but let's be honest these names are b-level oparators, Branco has often been linked with Junior Witter and i would tip Witter to beat him.

Anyway i'm going off the point, let's get Hatton in with Gatti after Mayweather deals with Gatti later this month (i pick Mayweather via stoppage) and let's have a war!!

I'll have a huge helping of humble pie please with cream and I doubt I'll ever be this happy eating it! I seriously doubted Hatton was that good but he came through.

Without trying to discredit him in any way that was not the Tszyu of old. But this was Hatton's time and he put in one hell of a performance and his tactics were spot on.

credit to you all

Hatton himself said he doesn't blame people who picked against him. After all, on paper, there was little to suggest that Tszyu would lose, except the fact he hadn't been in a distance fight for some time, and few people though Ricky could last long enough to get into the territory where that became a factor.

i dont think actually its necessary for the guys who posted here to even post as such, theres a difference between picking against a fighter to calling him names, and slating him.

its those peope i'd like to see eat humble pie and preferably choke on it.

I'll take my share of humble pie too.

I've been impressed with Ricky since I was at an amateur show in Barking and my trainers said to watch out for a bloke called Richard Hatton who was from up north and down to box Colin lynnes. He looked awesome in destroying Lynnes (with body shots) in about 50 seconds.

Since then I watched him keenly up until he gave up the British title and opted for the WBU. I slowly started to lose interest and patience (more so with Warren) but on Sunday morning commeth the hour commeth the man.

I thought Tszyu would spark Hatton, but Ricky was superb tactically and physically.

A truly memorable night for British boxing.

Good shout to you lads, atleast Hatton has gained a larger fan base now,

Shame its only lads from the UK who are the ones amiting they were wrong about Ricky

Now we need to slate the idiots calling Kosta a bum and a coward, he is a true warrior and deserves respect like all boxers!

The hardest sport in the World

At the end of the day Hatton has probably had this sort of performance in him for 2 or 3 years so in a way its a shame he was held back with that WBU belt for so long.

Much as Allegedly is taking the credit for making this match realistically Hatton should have fought for a real world title long before now and this should have been a unification fight.

Anyway no use looking backwards. I'm interested to hear what they are planning next.