Mayweather vs. Hatton: Final Impressions

Click for larger image © Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

Having returned from Las Vegas, I was eager to watch the Hatton vs. Mayweather fight again and to give a final overview of the night when The Hitman lost his ‘O’

The first thing I thought was that Rick looked very unsettled while walking to the ring; not his usual cool, calm self. Understandable when you’re about to face the best fighter in the world – but even so, it was unusual for Ricky.

There might have been some raised eyebrows when the three judges – all from Nevada – were announced, but it wasn’t going to make a difference in this fight. We already knew that well-known and respected referee, Joe Cortez, would be the other main man in the ring, but didn’t know at that point that he would be so significant in this contest.

MC Michael Buffer announced that “Somebody’s ’O’ has got to go” and I hoped last week that it would be Mayweather’s.

Packed to capacity, the MGM Grand Arena was awash with British fans; flag-waving, rowdy, excited and already thinking of the boozy after-fight parties that would be going on in the many bars and casino’s along The Strip.

Trainer Billy Graham, Strength Coach Kerry Kayes and British middleweight Matt Macklin were at Hatton’s side in the ring and waiting to do his work in the corner was trusted and respected cut-man, Mick Williamson.

Floyd “Money” Mayweather looked calm and relaxed – like he was about to start another day at the office! His belts were held aloft and boos rang around the arena as the crowd sang “There’s only one Ricky Hatton”.

As they come out for round one, Hatton’s ‘Band’ can be heard playing “Rule Britannia” and the crowd join in. Within 20 seconds, Hatton lands a jab to the right cheek of Mayweather, who looks surprised by it.

Then Hatton takes a left hand from Mayweather. Hatton continues to work from the middle of the ring with Mayweather edging around the ropes. With 1 minute 24 seconds of the round to go, Hatton lands a left jab which sends Mayweather toppling backwards, off-balance.

Both men have been locking arms from the start of the round. In the closing 20 seconds, referee Cortez warns Hatton for hitting on the back of head. In the final few seconds, Hatton gets caught from a right by Mayweather and then again as the bell signals the end of the first – action packed – round.

As they come out for round two, straight away Mayweather dips down again and the referee Cortez warns Hatton for pushing down. Already, Sky Sports presenters Ian Darke and Jim Watt are mentioning the fact that Cortez is interfering with the fight. Another left hook from Hatton and Mayweather again looks surprised.

Moments later, the pair are grappling and Cortez calls time to (seemingly) urge them to clean it up and fight. It appears that from this early stage, Cortez is going to provide as much action as the two fighters! Hatton has been caught with some small jabs, but a good straight right from Mayweather snaps his head back mid-way through the round.

Each time the two men come together to fight inside, Cortez breaks them apart and tells them to ’fight clean’. This must be frustrating for both men (it is for me!) Again, Cortez calls time and – gasping – he tells them he doesn’t want any dirty fighting otherwise he’ll deduct a point.

It’s been a good first two rounds for the Hitman. During the intermission, Cortez warns both corners that he’ll take a point if it’s not cleaned up. And as soon as the third round starts, Cortez is separating the two men again and again – each time they fight up close – he breaks them apart.

In the last 30 seconds of the round, Mayweather lands a left and a right, and there is a cut to Hatton’s right brow. Mick Williamson gets to work straight away as Hatton sits in his corner.

At the start of round four, Hatton has Mayweather pinned in the corner, both men toe-to-toe and both getting roughed up by their opponent. Hatton’s gloves keep dropping and Mayweather lands some great jabs. Hatton’s head snaps back again as Mayweather lands a clean left shot.

With 55 seconds to go, Hatton takes three punches in succession and the British fans are nervously stood on their feet. We’re not used to seeing the Hitman take so many shots and it’s a worrying time.

In the corner, Billy Graham tells Hatton to, “diffuse the situation and you’ll gradually wear him down…he’s getting more stuff to the head and you can’t get to the body because you’re too close”.

Round five is rough and dirty, not pleasant to watch! In the closing seconds, Hatton’s head is being shoved back by the rough wrestling style that Mayweather has adopted. During the intermission, the Hatton family and girlfriend Jennifer look distressed as they sit ringside.

It’s a messy start to round six as Hatton helps Mayweather through the ropes (!) Referee Cortez calls time and gestures that he is taking a point off Hatton for hitting the back of the head. The crowd are in uproar and as the contest resumes – Hatton (uncharacteristically) turns his back and shows his back-side to Mayweather as if to say ’I’m not bothered, two can play that game’. Mayweather smirks.

Seeming to vent his anger and frustration, Hatton flies at Mayweather. The British fans are chanting rude comments about the referee! In the closing seconds, Mayweather is hitting the back of Hatton’s head, but referee Cortez doesn’t note it! The fans boo as the bell signals the end of the round.

Again, referee Cortez tells the Hatton corner he’s going to start taking some points. As presenter Jim Watts has said, Mayweather’s shots are more noticeable because they’re cleaner punches. Hatton’s don’t appear to be landing and are stifled by Mayweather.

Round seven was much of the same; messy, rough style. But, again, Mayweather landed some clean shots that rocked the head of Hatton and made the crowd gasp.

Round eight and in the first minute of the frame Mayweather releases a barrage of shots, culminating in a big right hand which snaps Hatton’s head back and we wonder if he can take many more punches. But the Hitman continues to stand up to Mayweather and covers up briefly. There’s no question of the quality of punches that Mayweather is subjecting his opponent to, and Hatton seems to have been stifled from rounds three onwards.

In the last minute, Hatton takes a barrage of punches and the crowd groans as it senses the end of the dream; everyone is on their feet and the Hitman bravely walks forward towards his opponent (I don’t know how he manages to keep upright).

In the closing seconds of the eighth, Hatton digs deep and throws punches at Mayweather as he is pinned in to the corner. During the intermission, referee Cortez goes over to Hatton’s corner with a doctor to check on his ‘state’. Not the best time to be pressuring the corner!

Round nine and Hatton, knowing the last was a bad round, tears out of his corner to go after Mayweather, but his guard is low and he is so open to Mayweather’s shots, so that he gets caught time and time again.

After one minute of round 10, Mayweather lands a great left hook and Hatton bounces head-first off the corner post and on to the canvas. He gets up but looks stunned by the shot. I didn’t think he’d get up from it, but he continues and holds on to Mayweather while his head clears.

Another left from Mayweather and Hatton wobbles back on to the ropes and finally stumbles on to the canvas again. The towel is thrown in to the ring and referee Cortez has called a halt to the contest as Hatton lays back on the canvas.

Helped onto his stool in the corner, Hatton looks shocked. The fans are still singing ‘There’s only one Ricky Hatton…’

Afterward, Ricky (in his typical jokey manner) told Sky Sports Presenter Ian Darke, “I thought I just slipped!” Laughing, but then admits that he felt he, “forced the fight more than I should have done”.

“I don’t think he’s murderous, but he’s very accurate,” said Hatton of Mayweather. “I’m the best at light welterweight and I fought the best at welterweight.”

Mayweather gave credit to the Hitman, saying “He is one of the toughest opponents I ever faced, he kept coming, I see why they call him the Hitman.”

Ricky Hatton gave it everything he’d got in that fight. He tried hard for 10 frustrating rounds, but tactically it wasn‘t working. It wasn’t the Ricky Hatton we’re used to seeing. We’re not used to seeing him take so many punishing shots or being smothered to the point that I don’t recall seeing one trademark body-punch thrown. But he showed the same heart, the same tenacity and the same gutsy determination.

I’ve been a big fan of Ricky Hatton since he first turned professional all those years ago. When I watched the fight in Vegas, I was disappointed at his performance, but having watched it a second time, I see it differently now. Hatton is still a fantastic fighter, he is still a world-champion, he is still adored by thousands of Brits (and Americans!) – it’s just that on the night of December 8, his tactics didn’t work for him and he was outclassed by Floyd Mayweather.

It was Hatton’s first ever defeat, but so what? There’s no shame in losing to the best in the world.

The end of one dream just means the start of another, so I’m looking forward to seeing our Hitman drop back down to light welterweight next year and New Yorker Paulie Malignaggi has wasted no time in calling Hatton out to challenge for the IBF Title at Madison Square Garden.

I’m not sure that Las Vegas has ever seen anything so crazy as Hitman-mania’ let’s see what New York makes of it in 2008!