Quote Originally Posted by LeftHookToTheBody
I think it is pure crap when people say Kostya was not the same when Hatton fought him. No one was saying that prior to the fight. Kostya was top 3 pound for pound in most ratings. It is revisionist history to diminish him in the Hatton fight as a close to shot fighter. Hatton was just better, and would have beaten a 28 year old Kostya as well. I've closely watch Kostya at a younger age, and he is not any better on skill level than he was against Hatton. Ricky simply had the style to beat him at any age.
Wouldn't agree with you here, the Tszyu of 1999-2001 would have chopped Hatton up by the 5th round. I actually picked Hatton to win the fight as soon as i saw Tszyu at the weigh in, he looked drawn and gaunt and was not his usual self, he wasted a lot to make the weight and was drained before the fight even started. Fighters at age 35 are only one fight away from being shot and that was the case for Tszyu.
Hatton had all the advantages that night and i changed my pick accordingly, hometown, British Ref, time of the fight etc. Tszyu went there for the cash and took a gamble on winning, there was no shame in losing to Hatton, he is a great fighter and i respect the Fatboy heaps. Tszyu had only fought 3 rounds in 2 and half years before the Hatton fight and time and injury simply caught up with him.
The Mitchell win clouded peoples judgement and it was a great win for Tszyu but he was 34 himself!
Hatton won it and despite some dubious tactics, hats off to him for doing it.
The great shame about Hatton winning is the fact that Tszyu almost certainly would have fought Mayweather next.