Why are people criticizing Hatton so much?

I'd like to respond to the vast array of criticism leveled at hatton by a lot of people over his last two fights. I dont wanna be all divisive and trying getting into sides, instead I'd just like to say a few things we can all agree on.

Firstly Ricky been mixing it in world class for the last 3-4 years. The accusations that have appeared stating Hatton takes soft options and easy fights are stupid and badly thought out. Sure back in the day he met a few journeymen, but for every Joe Hutchinson and Carlos Vilches on his record there's tough guys like Ray Oliveira, Ben Tackie, Eamon Magee and Vince Philips, men who were world class champions in their prime and who always come to fight. You don't fluke your way past guys of that quality unless you have some class, and we must all surely agree that Hatton has class. These accusations have been around Ricky for a long time, but remember the guy dumped frank warren and his WBU bollocks, went to America, and then took on three world champions in a row at two different weights winning against all three. Name one british fighter bar lennox who's done that? Naz? Benn?

Then there's people who deny him respect by saying that Kostya Tszyu was old, past his best, rusty and that he caught him on the slide. Age may have played a factor in it, but give the credit to Ricky for walking through Kostya's biggests bombs and forcing a stoppage! Kostya Tszyu was one of the best champions of the 1990's, he defended his title numerous times, all this revisionism about how good Kostya was is pathetic. Kostya was a goddamn bonfide all-time-great, end of story.

Hatton fans should acknowledge that he's had difficulty in his last two fights, and that he needs to stay in better shape between fights, because every Hatton fan felt queasy watching the last few rounds of the Collazo fight. Aganst Urango he was obviously in some sort of distress, luckily he was fighting a strong-but-limited opponent and he could ride out the storm by clinching, but there is no way he was looking comfortable. Admit it. go on, its good for you.

Finally Junior F****** Witter. Firstly let me say Witter is a fine boxer with great skills. I'm a fan of the Ingle style of training/fighting and Witter is one of the best examples of that style. Its not always edge-of-your-seat stuff but I get a kick out of seeing it. Witter used to knock people out, he went through a stage of being more aggressive, but he's gone from fighting like Naz to fighting like Johnny Nelson. Both his best victories, N'dou and Corley, were boring fights. And that guy he fought last was S*** but he didn't even dispose of him well. Face it, Junior might have a belt now but there's no way he's in Hatton's league. Junior fights in school gyms on saturday nights in south yorkshire for $20k against S*** unknown fighters and Hatton has just co-headlined in Vegas with Jose Luis Castillo on PPV. Hatton is a superior fighter through and through. Witter couldn't stand the workrate and aggression that Hatton brings to a fight, coz Witter fights a slow pace and takes little rests all the time. I dont think Witter is any better than Collazo was, I alsothink Eamonn Magee in his day was a better fighter than Witter. They both managed to give Hatton trouble, but were beaten on points by superior boxing. Witter would be no different in my opinion.

There are also a lot of other fights out there for Hatton that would be much more competetive than a Junior Witter fight. Floyd Mayweather would be an intriguing bouts coz he is one of the only men out there who could pose Floyd trouble. Floyd starts a big favourite but I think Hatton will win good against Castillo and maybe then people with re-think that. Miguel Cotto is also a fighter I'd love to see fight Hatton because it has war written all over it. Cotto has looked better than Hatton has recently but I still think of this as a 50/50. Then there are guys like Acelino Freitas, Demtrius Hopkins, Juan Diaz, Juan Lazcano who would stand a better chance against Hatton than Witter would. Hatton just doesnt need Witter, after all the years of baiting and trying to annoy Hatton into the ring Witter has got nowhere and I'd find it highly amusing if Hatton just froze him out forever, ruining his big payday.

I wish people would be more chilled and just enjoy watching a young world champion prove himself rather than get all partisan and fanboyish over fighters. When people boo Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather for fighting smart I think serious questions need to be asked about boxing fans and what they expect from a fight. just pure bloodust? go watch UFC. Just coz fighters aren'y always going for it like Gatti and Ward doesn't mean there's nothing there to enjoy