How good was Rick Hatton?

[Leighton]

He had an unusual very up close constant pressure style. Not very pretty but very effective. He had great power from the clinch and just coming out of the clinch. You could hit him well and he would still be on top of you. He was close the majority of the time so hard to hit and he had a hell of an engine on him. He was a good fighter because of this.

[Beanz]

He was a lion with great footwork and a huge workrate. His body punching and ability to fight on the inside meant a lot of his fights became wars and people mistake this for brawling and having no boxing ability. He threw his shots correctly and had a great instinct for knowing when a guy was hurt and how to finish him.Most importantly he was a great servant to boxing on both sides of the pond. The much derided casual fans are vital for the survival of the sport and fighters like Ricky drew them in great numbers. Boxing is also about entertainment and he was both in and out of the ring great value in this capacity. I loved him, in the UK he was the public face of the sport we all follow and his fights enhanced the reputation of British boxing around the world.

[armyash]

I was in a bar in tenerife with a mate watching the Hatton Tszyu fight surrounded by loads of Manchester lads wearing sombreros, it was a quality night. With hind sight that fight did maybe flatter Hatton a bit as Tszyu hadn't been the most active fighter but he was still very very dangerous. Hatton did perhaps get everything his own way that night.

I'd say Hatton was very very good. A level below the likes of PBF/Pac/DLH/Mosley/Hopkins etc but that's still impressive.

Even Mayweather has said he respects Ricky Hatton for actually coming to fight and not just survive. Ricky could have fought differently against both Pac and Floyd and lasted the distance which might have got him more respect in America (possibly) but the I reckon us Brits respect him for taking the fight to them.