Quote Originally Posted by AC-Cobra
Usually agree with ya Britkid but gotta pick at something here, Hattons a Northern phenomenon?

I'll accept his popularity up North is big because of his hometown etc, but are you suggesting he's not appreciated or as popular down south? That I would have to disagree with. Hatton is popular with nearly all British Boxing fans because he has that one attribute that all Brits love - the British Bulldog/Grinder mentality. The sheer grit. Determination. The I dont care if I'm a 50 point fooking underdog, I'm gonna do this and your gonna see I'm the best. Its the same reason tough guys like Bobby Moore or John Terry will always be more popular (with pure sports fans) than someone like DAcid Beckham. Hattons grit appeals to everyone, North or South and if he won the BOXING nation would go wild. Unfortunately the sport is so under covered here, on a national sports scale it wouldnt make nearly as big a spash.
Boxing fans appreciate Ricky Hatton, but the general public in the South East would not recognize him, if he was walking down the street...

As I stated I think 'generally' he is a Northern phenomenon, but that is in large part, because the sport just is not as big as it was in the 80s and 90s.

British Boxing has not had a National hero, recognized by the general public as a whole, since Naseem. But at the same time, that is not Hatton's fault; maybe Warren could of brought him down to London a bit more... but then if you can fit 22,000 into the MEN everytime he fights, you can understand why he did not bother.