Ricky Hatton ,the most popular sportsman ever ?

[Kirkland Laing]

Carl Fogerty holds the record for biggest number of Brits abroad to watch an individual sportsman, I forget how many but over 100 000. He rides a motorbike apparently, or at least used to. The average Brit would only be dimly aware of him, same with Hatton. Hatton is popular among a subsection of sports fans, is recognisable to a larger chunk of the overall population, that's it.

[JazMerkin]

He's nowhere near the most popular sportsman ever. Maybe the most popular British boxer ever, but that's as far as I would go. I think the most popular sportsman ever would be between Ali, Maradona, Pele & Sachin Tendulkar (if you don't believe me go to India). Ali probably gets it for a worldwide following although it is largely motivated by what he did outside the ring.