How good was Rick Hatton?

[Rantcatrat]

Hatton was a proven great fighter for his day.

He was good enough to become the lineal lightwelter champion, P4P ranked by America's Ring Magazine, be paid millions by America's HBO TV company and be voted the "fighter of the year" by the boxing writers association of America.

How many foreigners achieve those accolades in America? Exactly. Fact.

Ricky Hatton was a very good fighter. If he makes it to the Hall of Fame it will be because of his international popularity as Fenster pointed out above, not his in-ring accomplishments. Boiled to its core, his career proved that he was a solid single division fighter, as evidenced by the lineal super lightweight belt he gained for beating Kosta Tszyu. He missed a couple of good junior welterweights in Miguel Cotto and Junior Witter. He also defended his title against a few good boxers in Juan Urango, Carlos Maussa and Paulie Malignaggi. He lost when he stepped up to the elite, ATG great level against Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. Measured against other recent British greats, I would put him below Lennox Lewis, Joe Calzaghe and probably Amir Khan, depending on how his career develops.

I admire Ricky Hatton for going out on his shield, for daring to be great, even if he fell a tad bit short.

Here's a good summary of Ricky Hatton's career as measured against all time: Measured Against All Time - Ricky Hatton - Boxing News