Hatton was a Fluke!!

[Violent Demise]

Now that Hatton got humiliated and destroyed by Pacquiao, it’s easy to jump on the anti-Hatton bandwagon and discredit his entire career. Well… I like to think of myself as mostly objective, so I’m here to put a little perspective on the matter.

First, Hatton’s win over Kostya Tszyu. Although I hated the fight (and was rooting for Kostya), you gotta give credit to Hatton (even if it’s grudgingly). I hated the fight, ‘cause Hatton’s mauling style is revolting to me. I like my boxing clean and skillful. Nevertheless, it’s unfair to claim that Kostya was all of a sudden “over-the-hill.” Nobody had claimed this before the fight, and it sounds like sour grapes to have claimed that after the fight. He lost, pure and simple. True, the ref had a lot to do with the outcome, by not penalizing Hatton for holding, grabbing, and mauling… but Hatton was relentless, whereas Kostya finally just quit in his corner.

Now for Hatton’s win over Castillo. Ain’t no way in hell that the Castillo that lost to Hatton was even a shadow of the Castillo that went 10 hellacious rounds with Diego Corrales in one of the best fights ever. Castillo was shot, or pretty close to it. That Hatton’s body shot was impressive and caused the one-punch KO? Yes it was. But Castillo was a shell of his former self.

Hatton’s performance at 147? Pathetic. Too bad he never got to face Cotto at that weight. That would’ve ensured that he (Hatton) and Pacquaio never fought. Cotto would’ve destroyed Hatton.

Finally, Hatton’s KO loss to Pacquiao. I was predicting a Hatton win, based on size… Hatton is a natural 140-pounder, whereas Pacquiao came all the way up from several weight divisions south of 140, and his best weight is/was 130. But I began to get pissed off when Hatton started claiming he was fighting for the world’s p4p title. WTF?!?!? Hatton is light-years away from p4p anything, and always has been. So I was hoping for an emphatic Pacquiao win. I guess I got my wish.

So in the end, Hatton got exposed as to what he has been all along… a medicore fighter who amassed a bunch of victories in England over a bunch of nobodies, but also a tainted win over Kostya Tszyu. Then, when he begins fighting elite competition, he gets his ass handed to him. That’s pretty much it, in a nutshell.

Those 2 corrections turn your pretty good post into a great post

[KostyaTszyuTeam]

These are what I would call Kostya Tszyus best wins. His first being in 1995, his last 2002, when he was 32!! He was starting to visibly slow against Leija, and when he fought Hatton at 35, he had fought 3 rounds in two years.

The Roger Mayweather fight is Nowhere near the list. The reason I dumped that in was because a name you may know. Also it was Tszyu First worl titke defence, after only like 12 pro fights or something, and he won ALL 12 rounds.

Tszyus best performances to me.
Rodriguez: Good solid champ Dominated
Pineda: 6'1 Undefeated, never the same afterward
Bergman: Mandatory, wicked KO
Grove: Former world champ mowed down in round 1
Ruelas: One of Mexicos better fighters, got thrashed in 8
Hurtado: Former world titlist, never quite the same afterwards
Gonzalez: Arguably Tszyu best win, destroyed a then great boxer
Chavez: One of the few men to EVER drop Chavez, mandatory no1 def
Mitchell X2: Excellent boxer in prime, top ten p4p when beat again
Judah: Former Undisputed Welterweight champ, at best first time 140
Tackie: Mandatory no1 contender, 12 rd shut out, never the same again.

I would say those are Tszyus best fights. Julio Cesar Chavez was the mandatory no1 challenger, not the garbish man, as much as you dislike the fact.

True Kostya doesnt have a prime hall of fame opponent to his list, but you take Chavez anyway, as they fought, and one of onlt two guys to EVER drop him.

The quality of opponnets goes from year 1995,96, 98,99,2000,2001,2002. It was a significant reign, with other guys fought between these times. I mean if you look up Pineda now, he was shot and going down after that fight, but up until then, a great challenger. That was the case for many of Tszyus opponents, when they lost, never the same. How you rate them, personal prefernce. Tackie was not the same guy fighting Hatton when he fought Tszyu etc.

Since Hatton doesnt like southpaws, how would he go with Mitchell and Judah. We may have a chance to see Judah, past both guys best before they're both done. A great career, and top3 alltime 140 punds, with Pryor, and i'd have Chavez behind them based on actual work at that weight.

TSZYU - Hall of fame fighter, one of the greatest 140 pound fighters all time, near 36 when lost
CASTILLO - Past his best. NEVER did Anything to be called Great. Good fighter, big difference to Tszyu
COLLAZO - Not a great boxer won a belt through circumstance, never seen since, lost title first or second defence.
URANGO - Solid fighter
MALIGNAGGI - A good fighter
MAUSSA - Beat a trashed Harris, doesnt everyone, like Witter. Not a great fighter
LAZCANO - Never a World Champ. A nobody on the alltime list
PHILLIPS - WELL past his best

v

Rodriguez:
Pineda:
Bergman
Grove
Ruelas
Hurtado
Gonzalez
Chavez
Mitchell
Judah
Tackie


Kostya has a better resume..He fought better guys, and some opponents in common when they were at their best, not faded. It was a long and distinguished record, and thats why he is a hall of fame fighter. Hatton is a good fighter, and I was surprised how badly he lost to Pacquiao. Top ten p4p on his day. Struggles badly against Southpaws, as evident against Collazo prior to Pacquiao. Still has a chance for a title and a good win before he retires