Hatton became under rated when he flattend out, but he never really aimed seriously past the pinnacle that was Kostya. You have to hand it to him,it was one of the longest visions that became a reality through hard work.
Him beating Vince Phillips was part of the psychology behind the taking down of Tszyu, outside of the ring.(A tactic the Champion Tszyu did with all his main opponents before,he would get into their heads somehow ever so subtlety) and would build a win around it. KT should of done the job on Vince but couldnt then wouldnt. Ricky also aimed to move on each ex opponent in a fuller way than Kostya did so he was always chiseling away at the mountain Kostya had built (Thats what got him the end result,his dream fight). Then the younger man beat the older one by playing his own ring game. That balanced out what happened to Chavez previously when facing the younger Tszyu the greatest at 140 ever.
I also recon this period (Tszyu's) was the most exiting in boxing ever. 140 was lit up, 135 was lit up 147 lit up, and Roy lit up the mid to light, while the Feather weights and the bantams were all having greater wars than any of the higher weights.
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