Hattons Prime - The myth

[BIG H]

You can say that he was never "Great" but of course he was "World class"

[TitoFan]

Depends, Big H. To me, "world-class" is greater than "great". From that perspective, I'd rather call him "great" than "world-class". Depends on definitions, I guess.

[BIG H]

World class to me, means amongst the best in the world at that time. If you are fighting for the championship of the world ( not just alphabet) and are winning, surely by definition you are 'World Class'

[TitoFan]

That's what I thought. Then I guess we'll agree to disagree.

[Islander]

people dont know how hard it is to make it as a boxer. Look at all the Olympic boxers, Olympic champions, Amateur champs. How many of them win world titles? How many of them have success as a pro? Less than 1 percent i think

Hatton was not great but he was very good, world class fighter. Thats why i hate it when these internet fanboys always diss on Pacquiao or Floyd's resumes. I hate Floyd for being a pussy but he's still a great boxer. I may not like Pac's opponent choices but he's not overrated or a hype job. These guys are the REAL DEAL!

[Dia bando]

Ricky was a World Champion so he was more than World Class, he had to have class to be a Champion tito?. is this something to do withto much.

[Mars_ax]

Ricky might not have been great during his career, but at least he stepped up and fought the best, I respect him for that and going out on his shield. His only 2 losses in 47 fights were to Pacquiao and Mayweather, two of the best fighters EVER, there's no shame in that.

[Taffturner]

Hatton was NEVER world-class. Hatton had a "perfect-storm" type of moment against Kostya Tszyu, and the snowball (hype) began rolling down the hill, gathering size and momentum as it rolled along. Hatton himself got caught up in it, and declared he was fighting for world's p4p both against Mayweather and against Pac, both of whom brought him back to his senses. (Well... in Pac's case, he actually got separated from his senses). In reality, had he earned both of those shots? Probably not.

Loving a fighter, and insisting he's world-class when he's not, are two completely different things. Nothing against Hatton the person, he was/is very engaging. He may have lost his humility somewhere along the line, but that's understandable when you've got an entire nation telling you you're the best in the world.

Wat a load of bull shit?!? Hatton mixed with not only the TWO BEST p4p fighters but numerous other world champs+ contenders, kosta, collazo, urango, castillo, paulie m, to name afew, how the fuck is he not world class??! He boxed and won 40+ fights and only got beat by the two best on the planet, dont get me wrong im not sayin hatton was the best, but he was defo world class

[BIG H]

That's what I thought. Then I guess we'll agree to disagree.<br />
<br />
<img src="images/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Wink" smilieid="4" class="inlineimg" />

<br />
<br />

Yes we do, because if fighting for world titles against the world's best doesn't make you world class, then what class does it make you?

[TitoFan]

My own definition of "world-class" is elite, among the world's best. Maybe on the p4p list. Hatton was none of the above. There's been plenty of fighters that have fought for world titles under less than deserving circumstances. We all know that. Hatton's list of opponents does not impress me. And I'm not alone in my opinion, either. I just happen to voice mine.

[0james0]

Hatton was NEVER world-class. Hatton had a "perfect-storm" type of moment against Kostya Tszyu, and the snowball (hype) began rolling down the hill, gathering size and momentum as it rolled along. Hatton himself got caught up in it, and declared he was fighting for world's p4p both against Mayweather and against Pac, both of whom brought him back to his senses. (Well... in Pac's case, he actually got separated from his senses). In reality, had he earned both of those shots? Probably not.

Loving a fighter, and insisting he's world-class when he's not, are two completely different things. Nothing against Hatton the person, he was/is very engaging. He may have lost his humility somewhere along the line, but that's understandable when you've got an entire nation telling you you're the best in the world.

I think this is too true. Hatton got caught up in his hype, thought he was invincible.

I do think he was a world class fighter, watch his fight with Floyd and compare it to Floyd's recent fights, he made it far more uncomfortable for him than he normally gets it.

[THE THIRD MAN]

Hatton was NEVER world-class. Hatton had a "perfect-storm" type of moment against Kostya Tszyu, and the snowball (hype) began rolling down the hill, gathering size and momentum as it rolled along. Hatton himself got caught up in it, and declared he was fighting for world's p4p both against Mayweather and against Pac, both of whom brought him back to his senses. (Well... in Pac's case, he actually got separated from his senses). In reality, had he earned both of those shots? Probably not.

Loving a fighter, and insisting he's world-class when he's not, are two completely different things. Nothing against Hatton the person, he was/is very engaging. He may have lost his humility somewhere along the line, but that's understandable when you've got an entire nation telling you you're the best in the world.

I think that is going a bit far, he was world class alright, he just didn't continue on as expected after the Tszyu fight and as i mentioned in my earlier post that fight took a lot out of him. Saying Hatton was not world class is like saying neither was Ken Norton, George Chuvalo, Esteban De Jesus, Rodrigo Valdez, Edwin Rosario, Rafael Herrera, Miguel Angel Gonzalez etc all of whom were champions with one version of the belt or fought A list legends and lost. (They were all world class fighters, any top 1 or 2 contender is) Hatton lost 2 fights against two super champions, perhaps the Pacquaio knockout has clouded people's judgement of him. Many a great champion has suffered serious knockout losses Zarate V Gomez, Gomez V Sanchez, Arguello V Pryor, Frazier v Foreman, Foster was blasted out by both Ali and Frazier does this relegate them to average pugs? Hatton was world class for a while and just met his match with PBF and Pacman, the pity is he didn't look after himself as well as he should've. Gone at age 30 proves that point.

[Andre]

Yeah I think he was world class for sure, but it was a touch fleeting, like a shooting star as opposed to others who shine on or become the everlasting suns of boxing history .

I saw his stand out moments as more of a 'must engage now type of fighter' than an all round boxer. With that he couldnt make every boxer fight his fight , those that did fell to his tenacity and will power. Boxers and movers with more traditional stance space and angles could eventually catch him on his turns and would eventually get him frustrated because he had a seek and destroy square kind of style.

[El Kabong]

Ricky was a very polarizing his fans thought he would beat anyone and everyone who ever laced up gloves. He was good, he hit 140 at the right time and he avoided certain fighters, let's be honest. Hatton vs Cotto at any point in time Cotto wrecks him.

The Floyd fight was at 147 in hindsight it was good that Ricky lasted as long as he did. It tells me Floyd never trusted himself fighting Ricky at 140.

Pac just crushed Ricky it would have happened at any weight because STYLES MAKE FIGHTS.

[Andre]

Ricky was a very polarizing his fans thought he would beat anyone and everyone who ever laced up gloves. He was good, he hit 140 at the right time and he avoided certain fighters, let's be honest. Hatton vs Cotto at any point in time Cotto wrecks him.

The Floyd fight was at 147 in hindsight it was good that Ricky lasted as long as he did. It tells me Floyd never trusted himself fighting Ricky at 140.

Pac just crushed Ricky it would have happened at any weight because STYLES MAKE FIGHTS.

I dont think Floyd fancied himself at 140.