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Hatton, most exciting fighter in the world
http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=6444&more=1
27.03.06 - By Michael Klimes: Nigel Benn, the ‘Dark Destroyer’ was once described by Bob Arum as ‘the most exciting fighter in the world’. Benn’s gifts were his steel fisted hands, fiery resolve to punish his opponents whatever they through at him and his fearful ability to be at his most dangerous when he was hurt. Benn had been frequently praised as a ‘wounded tiger.’ If he was plastered with a beautiful uppercut he had the power to counter attack with one of his slinging left hooks. Benn’s flaws were a reckless defence and stamina problems caused by an inability to pace himself properly. To his credit, Benn got better with age and fought more strategically as he got older.
Hatton is the most explosive attacking fighter to emerge from Britain’s shores in ten years and is the natural heir to Arturo Gatti. In some ways he is also the natural heir to Benn. He never stops coming forward; he is a peerless body puncher with what is surely one of the most energy exorcising left hooks to the body in years and is a merciless predator.
Hatton, however, is different in several major and positive ways. He does not have Benn’s mystical one hit wonder punch and although this can be seen as a disadvantage, in reality it is not. Hatton can maintain a fighting intensity far longer than Benn ever could and is not relegated to the one dimensional hope of landing the lucky sucker punch if he is having his head stained with the smear of a graceful jab. Equally crucial is Hatton is a fighter that is much more versatile than Benn ever was. He jumps around on his feet much more, circles well and can box when he wants to.
Whenever Benn came into contact with a slick counter puncher like Chris Eubank, especially in their first classic encounter, he was hit by Eubank’s very effective counter right hand leads. Eubank was also adept at snapping out his sneaky jab. Benn’s defence was almost non-existent and although it made a great fight, Benn could have minimised the damage if he does what Hatton does so well.
Instead of just plodding into punches Hatton will throw his jab or alternatively a right hand lead to keep his adversaries on the defensive and off balance. Before they know it Hatton has got himself onto the inside where he is at his most lethal yet mystifyingly beautiful. Hatton is one of the best combination punchers in the world. Immediately this may sound controversial to some people but he reminds me of Roberto Duran and Mike Tyson in this respect.
Tyson and Duran are two of the most gifted fighters of the past thirty years. They had skills, which purely offensive fighters rarely have. Duran had an impeccable head feint and Tyson the ‘peak a boo’ style that combined holding the hands high and the weaving and bobbing style of Joe Frazier. They were both work demons that followed their opponents with an incessant rage.
Hatton has the same blood pumping through his veins. He cannot only box his way onto the inside but take the punches as well (if he need be). His third technique is holding his hands over his face in a high guard and then simply pushing through, using sheer strength against his unfortunate cannon fodder.
Once Hatton gets his man on to the ropes his barrages are ridiculous. His hands are very fast and these are not pathetic punches he is launching. These are grazing hooks and uppercuts that go to the body and head. A boxer that attempts to shield themselves is in a futile act. Your arms cannot be in two places at once.
Another impressive component of Hatton’s style is his ability to bury himself in another man’s chest if he needs a rest. He clinches very effectively and then just moves back ever so slightly, still remaining on the inside and hits with his kidney shots. Just think of taking one of those punches! Hatton has probably made more boxers piss blood the next morning than any other fighter active today. If someone is doing that, he is a body puncher of exceptional precision and power.
Hatton can also rough up his opponents and bend the rules a bit, which is always welcome. This is what Lacy failed to do against Calzaghe and is a major reason why he was so outclassed. Although Hatton is a brilliant fighter in attack, he knows there will be other men of talent superior to his own, particularly Mr Mayweather. To compensate for that you do two things: Fight dirty and wrestle. Hatton is a great wrestler and fighting on the ropes is what Ken Norton declared when he sat at ringside, commenting on ‘The Thrilla in Manila’,’ There is no playing around on the ropes. This is when men become men.’ Hatton is man in a monster’s body.
The brain of Hatton is another quality as he can think when he fights, which is crucial because he can apply what he has learned and trained. Preparation is fruitless if one cannot apply it in the ring when there is a need for it in order to win the fight.
Finally the greatest ally Hatton has is this: All the greatest fighters of all the different eras and styles have had it, footwork. Hatton has the footwork of a ballerina. He follows his opponents superbly. He is also on perfect balance when he arches his hip and shoulder for a crunching left hook to the body and has the art of balance few boxers have the blessing of.
Look at the Evidence:
What is so encouraging about Hatton is one sees him progress if you look back on his fights. The sensational fitness and enthusiasm to get his man was always there. When he defeated Tony Pep, a tall and rangy fighter for the W.B.U title we see Hatton’s custom body shots. He stops him with the right hook to the body. Beforehand he had hit him with exquisite left hooks. By the time Hatton fought the skilful but aged veteran Freddie Pendelton (who was 38), Hatton was maturing rapidly. He was only 23 and made an emphatic win against someone who was former I.B.F lightweight champion, had campaigned in 77 bouts and took on Felix Trinidad, Roger Mayweather and Pernell Whitaker.
His first trouble was against the slick counter puncher Eamonn Magee, the tough Irishman floored him in the first round. Hatton did well to regain his composure and asserted himself thereafter. Hatton boxed his way back into the fight.
In combat against Michael Stewart in an I.B.F eliminator in 2004, The Hitman floored him the first round with a body shot and knocked him down again with a straight right. Hatton’s right hand was becoming a more devastating punch itself. Hatton looked faster, more powerful and a more precise puncher. He was just getting better in every department.
Then he finally silenced all his critics by his performance at the M.E.N Arena.
The Conclusion:
Ricky Hatton is a whirlwind of destruction. I find it just exceptional he can connect all his strengths together with the pace he fights at.
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Re: Hatton, most exciting fighter in the world
Cant argue with that!!
But im sure we will get some haters saying he is a "Wrestler" etc etc!!
The guy is awesome to watch and i would rather see Hatton v PBF than Oscar Dela Hoya v PBF any day of the week.
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Re: Hatton, most exciting fighter in the world
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Originally Posted by skel1983
Cant argue with that!!
But im sure we will get some haters saying he is a "Wrestler" etc etc!!
The guy is awesome to watch and i would rather see Hatton v PBF than Oscar Dela Hoya v PBF any day of the week.
Agreed Skel...
I just think it's nice to see such a positive article about a fighter. I'm getting a bit fed up with a the constant hating we see in so many articles nowadays... Real fight fans should appreciate what these guys are doing, and not constantly critisize them.
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Re: Hatton, most exciting fighter in the world
i think that is the fight that everyone wants to see. hatton mayweather. get it on boys.
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Re: Hatton, most exciting fighter in the world
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Re: Hatton, most exciting fighter in the world
BREAKING NEWS PEOPLE, HATTON ANNOUNCES NEW OPPONENT!
HULK HOGAN! Hatton thinks he can out wrestle him ;D
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Re: Hatton, most exciting fighter in the world
good article, but all of that glowing praise could go out the window if Hatton slacks off just 10% on his training or conditioning. He's fighting as a welterweight now, and with only a 65" reach it's crucial that he has the energy, speed and stamina to stalk and catch the large collection of welterweights with reaches in excess of 70". Since I like Hatton (and I'm not even British), hopefully he will manage to beat Collazo. However, I don't think that it will be anywhere near as easy as a lot of Ricky Hatton fans think it will be.
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Re: Hatton, most exciting fighter in the world
In what sense do you mean easy Mok??
I am 80/90% certain he will stop this guy but if he doesn't i cant see him having many problems, it it goes to the scorecards i think it will look very dominent i have watched Collazo's last two fights, he is nothing much for me, it will be a comfortable victory.
Also Hatton doesen't know the meaning of slacking off he is an animal in training i would put him in the top 5 in the world for intensity and hard word while training for every fight he has, and i doubt he will let up with this being his HBO debut.
Hatton TKO 6-8 Rnds.
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Re: Hatton, most exciting fighter in the world
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Originally Posted by hillman06
Quote:
Originally Posted by skel1983
Cant argue with that!!
But im sure we will get some haters saying he is a "Wrestler" etc etc!!
The guy is awesome to watch and i would rather see Hatton v PBF than Oscar Dela Hoya v PBF any day of the week.
Agreed Skel...
I just think it's nice to see such a positive article about a fighter. I'm getting a bit fed up with a the constant hating we see in so many articles nowadays... Real fight fans should appreciate what these guys are doing, and not constantly critisize them.
:goodpost: spread the love man.. :hippy:
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Re: Hatton, most exciting fighter in the world
Skel, you haven't got a link for those two Collazo fights have you?... ;)
I've been looking for some footage of him for a while now
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Re: Hatton, most exciting fighter in the world
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snakey
BREAKING NEWS PEOPLE, HATTON ANNOUNCES NEW OPPONENT!
HULK HOGAN! Hatton thinks he can out wrestle him ;D
i dont know hogan does not look good
http://youtube.com/watch?v=p1Sbw52bB...s%20Commercial
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Re: Hatton, most exciting fighter in the world
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Originally Posted by hillman06
Skel, you haven't got a link for those two Collazo fights have you?... ;)
I've been looking for some footage of him for a while now
I'll get if you you after 6 Uk time mate im at work at the moment i will upload then O0
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Re: Hatton, most exciting fighter in the world
Quote:
Originally Posted by skel1983
Quote:
Originally Posted by hillman06
Skel, you haven't got a link for those two Collazo fights have you?... ;)
I've been looking for some footage of him for a while now
I'll get if you you after 6 Uk time mate im at work at the moment i will upload then O0
Quality mate... I'll pick it up tomorrow morning when I get to work (Computer at home has packed up!)
I would CC ya, but I'm still along way away from that!!
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Re: Hatton, most exciting fighter in the world
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Originally Posted by rsan-chez
Thats just hogan getting down to 140, hes still got the strength ;D
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Re: Hatton, most exciting fighter in the world
I heard the undercard's gonna be Duran v. Tszyu, the Battle of the Quitters ;D
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Re: Hatton, most exciting fighter in the world
I think that Hatton is exciting...but the most exciting man in boxing right now has to be Pacquiao...& I aint a Pac-fan.
Pac pretty much just shocks the world & me-self every time that he fights.
I personally saw him as a one-D fighter...but after what he did with Morales...watching him switch gears & stances midway through the fight...I had to recant & take that back.
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Re: Hatton, most exciting fighter in the world
Some of the same things can be said about Corrales, Castillo, and Pac. Hatton definately makes fights exciting, and is one of the most exciting fighters in the world. You could also make a case for Calzaghe.
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Re: Hatton, most exciting fighter in the world
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Originally Posted by smashcrusher
I heard the undercard's gonna be Duran v. Tszyu, the Battle of the Quitters ;D
humerous.. but wrong.. ;) Duran said no mas.. Kostya's corner said no more. ;D
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Re: Hatton, most exciting fighter in the world
I can't say Hatton is the most exciting... if he had more power, and didn't hold as much as he did... his work rate would make him the most exciting, but people like Corrales and Castillo against a good fighter can be much more exciting if the guy fight inside with them, and also Joe Calzaghe is exciting to watch more so than Hatton IMO.
