Quote Originally Posted by AdamGB View Post
IMHO Billy Graham should stick to conditioning.

For years the development of his boxing abilitys has been neglected. I understand Hatton's style etc but I can't believe Graham never taught Hatton how and when to use a guard etc.

At this stage in his career though, he should of just stuck with Graham, no sense trying to strip an old engine down and try to make a new one. Don't think he can be directly blamed for the Mayweather loss at all.

The Maussa fight should of been a clear indicator that he couldn't simply just walk through anybody but I always got the feeling listening to the team that since he beat Tyszu they believed their own hype way too much.

Really don't see why nobody was kicking Hatton's arse and keeping him on a straighter path between fights, you read his autobiography and he practically brags about benders him and graham had... suppose it's a double edged sword... if he'd been like a monk then he wouldn't have 25,000 fans going to watch him fight in Vegas, but I can't be the only person who got sick of how thickly they laid on the 'normal, common bloke' deal (as if other boxers ride around on penny farthings wearing top hats or something?)
Hopkins/Calzaghe etc may not have been 'Normal Common blokes' (*sigh*) but you don't see them going to the ring covered in coldsores or telling you that they have a cold every other week.

Sorry if it sounds like I'm tearing into Hatton here, I just feel that although he's done very well and had a very respectful career, fought the best and only lost to the best but he could of been better, he's got a lot of talent and I think part of that has been neglected.
great critique of hatton's drinking, and of how he bragged about it, and how he kept on harping about him being a normal bloke and jack the lad. bragging on drinking is for kids, as any real long-term drinker will be the first to point out, and calling himself a jack the lad, and all his repeated references to being fat, were flaky, that is, in bad taste. then while in the ring after getting knocked out by floyd, he didn't waste any time saying, "oh i didn't have to come up in weight for this fight but bla bla bla." So, he has his money and his legacy and his mates. I won't miss him.