Quote Originally Posted by Andre View Post
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.
I think my opinion of Hatton had always been unpopular I never saw him as the P4P superstar many did, with the help of the ref he was able to wrestle a rusty and past prime Tyszu into submission, he looked flat against a lot of fighters who a true p4p fighter really shouldn't have, got Castillo at the right time (but did land a beautiful body shot to stop him), his 147 title was gifted to him and he 'boxed' a stupid fight against Manny... Lunging straight forward with his hands down and his chin up.

Don't get me wrong, solid career and he always gave his all. I just think he was overhyped and not the calibre most British fans want to believe. I just wish he'd taken his lifestyle a bit more seriously and continued work on his skills after he'd landed on the world stage instead of buying into his own hype of being this relentless raging bull.