Hatton Does the Right Thing.

Sometimes, when boxing is suffering from the effects of another self-inflicted bloody nose or black eye, I am filled with doubt about my continuing affection for the sport. The cause of my disappointment may be another outrageous Vegas decision, where a house fighter only has to remain vertical to get a decision. Alternatively, the source of my chagrin may be one of the alphabet soup organizations; maybe they have sanctioned a world title challenge for a fighter who has mysteriously appeared in the top ten a matter of weeks before the bout was signed. Installing a challenger under such circumstances can amount to criminal negligence. All these things and many more scenarios cause me to question my love for such a cruel mistress. Then, just as I think a parting of the ways is all but inevitable, something happens that reminds me why I fell in love in the first place. The latest event to repair my breaking heart was the signing of the fight between Ricky Hatton and Kostya Tszyu for the Australian based Russian’s IBF world light welterweight title. For Hatton to get a long overdue title fight against the universally recognized best fighter in the division, proves that the good guys can still succeed in this business.

The path of least resistance was never a route that Ricky would have been happy to travel. When the Manchester man speaks about his ambitions, he never speaks about the financial rewards, but rather about gaining the respect of his peers. Some may argue that with the money he has made and the way Team Hatton take care of everything outside of the ropes; this is a luxury not available to less fortunate fighters.

When I hear the way he speaks about his frustration at not landing the big fights, and taking pay cuts to get them, I hear the echoes of great lighter weight fighters of the past. I am sure the likes of Beau Jack, Ike Williams or Jake LaMotta would be nodding approvingly if they could hear Hatton waxing lyrical about proving he was the best in the world. Hatton has without doubt chosen the highest mountain to climb in his quest for his personal Holy Grail. There were easier and in the short term, more lucrative paths to follow. But it appears that Hatton would have it no other way.

He was deeply offended by some of the undeserved criticism he received last year. For two years now, he has just asked for the chance to prove himself at the top level. If Frank Warren, for whatever reason couldn’t make the fights it is hardly the fault of the fighter. While awaiting a title shot, Hatton could have been expected to follow the tried and tested route of taking easy paydays with minimum risk to his ranking. But, in the last two years, he has fought seven times. Among these opponents were, the durable Ben Tackie who had gone the distance with Tszyu. Although out-boxed by the Russian, the Ghanaian was never in trouble. Ricky won a wide decision and gave Tackie the worst beating of his career, continually wobbling him.

Hatton won every round on the scorecards against Vince Phillips. The same Phillips who had KO’d Tszyu in 1997. Then he stopped Mike Stewart in five rounds in October 2004. Going in, Stewart had an impressive 36-2 record and had never been off his feet. The year finished with a systematic beating and stoppage of Ray Oliveira. What made the Oliveira victory so impressive was that Oliveira had been operating at the top level for over ten years. He had never failed to hear the final bell before his meeting with the “Hitman.”

This was hardly the resume` of a protected fighter. Ricky Hatton brings a refreshing attitude to the fight game. He realizes that the rent must be paid, but not at the expense of his legacy. At times, he must be a promoter’s nightmare. I can only imagine Mr. Warren’s reactions when he reads about Ricky proposing to take a pay cut if it would land him a title fight. Hatton is obviously not familiar with the promoter’s credo of “the greatest reward for the least risk”.

Despite what the camp may say publicly, it will be a great relief to replace that WBU belt with much more prestigious ones. For an athlete at the top of his game it seems slightly demeaning to parade around with the belt of an organization so close to the bottom of it’s particular field. If he can defeat the Russian, he will treasure a belt from a more recognized organization. Above all, he will know that he has found his place in history and is truly the best in the world at what he does. For a man with a keen sense of boxing history, you cannot put a price on that. So, although I want Ricky to win as fervently as anyone, to me, the way he has conducted himself on the way to his dream makes him a winner already.

So thanks Team Hatton for reminding this cynic why he finds this sport the most fascinating of them all.

Patrick Gibbons can be reached at patrick.gibbons4@btinternet.com