This fan is far from embarrassed, although I’m a little ticked off!
For me, the first 7 rounds were a real treat.
It was quite refreshing to see Ricky dart around, popping 3 punch combos from all sorts of angles while staying out of trouble.
Very Dynamic I thought to myself.. Much more like a young Roberto Duran he'd been so often likened to, now for the kill Ricky!
Then what?
I suppose the general idea was that Ricky gassed out and chose to wrestle the much stronger man (who it must be said was bullied backwards during the clinches throughout the fight).
Sarcasm aside, I’m not sure I buy that?
I mean, I would love to argue that all the negative shite coming outta Graham’s mouth had some kinda effect of Ricky.
Don’t get me wrong, I agree with Hulk in saying that Hatton did NOT like those body shots, but then again, who does?
But to me, Hatton did NOT look like he was in any physical danger (never staggered, never buckled... Although I concede he did get his a$s kicked in the 5th). It was clear that Ricky was told to box first, but when it became apparent that his boxing was starting to loose its Golota, Graham turned into a flaming delirious fish wife, probably having premonitions of becoming a weeping widow!
Seriously, ive never heard so much negative shite come outta any1 trainer’s mouth, when it was least needed.
I mean Ricky had a badish 8th or 9th and it was like "just hang the fwock on Ricky"!
I had enough of that shat with Frank Bruno back in '95!
My opinion is that if Ricky had just stuck to planting his feet a bit more and out hustling his man, backing him up and actually believing that he was doing a good job of it, he would of won by just as wide a margin and still looked good for it.
Hatton probably WAS dog tired though, but then again, you think he wasn’t against Tszyu? What was lacking in this fight was fire and intensity. I hold Billy Graham highly responsible for that.
Ricky does need to stop with the bad lifestyle habits though. It must be raising questions in his own head by now.. Even if his eating habits are truly irrelevant to his condition.... Better safe than sorry.
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