Not trying to take away from Hatton's achievements V Kostya but I think he did get the benefit of home town reffing. I remember similar things happening back when Jeff Fenech fought in Australia. He was the house fighter and a crowding volume puncher like Hatton. Australian refs used to let him wrestle and maul like the guy allowed Hatton to V Kostya. It's not Ricky's fault, but breaks should have been enforced and the pushing and holding and hitting could have been policed a lot more.

The house fighter seems to get preferential treatment in America too though (Lacy V Reid)