If Hatton had not blown up in weight between fights...

[Dizaster]

This is a very good topic that needs addressed. I think people who think it didn't matter are only looking at his success. No one is perfect but anybody who is human can always be better at something they do. The goal is to minimize that gap. Hatton was/is a good boxer who was great for how he treated his body. Actually, Hatton did exceptionally well considering the lengthy period of time he would blow up to the 170s in between fights. No trainer would want to or allow their fighter do this for more than once or twice a career. 30 something pounds for a small guy to drop is asking for danger. BHop is a very good example of what usually happens when a fighter absolutely takes care of himself in between fights. Hopkins doesn't drink, party, let his weight get up there, or break from the gym for more than a week. Hatton probably would've lost to both Pac and PBF because of technical flaws but he would've gave both, especially PBF, more trouble and been more durable. Even though it seems obvious it should be said. Hatton would've been a significantly better equipped fighter had he took better care of his body.

And yet everyone agree's he would have still lost to Floyd and Pac. So living as a fat pisshead outside the ring didn't harm his career in the slightest.

What about the mental side? Some people may benefit from being able to totally seperate themselves from the sport and then give it 100% focus when needed?

Maybe if he couldn't enjoy a beer and have a burger in between fights and be himself, and just trained hard and was a full blown professional athlete, his heart wouldn't have been in his boxing...

As someone said, he wasn't the most tallented fighter we've ever seen.. Made he made the most of everything he had, and then some...

You could argue on a pure athletic and physical level, the weight shifts between fights may have affected scientific numbers when it comes to his punch output or whatever else could be measured...

But Hatton fought with his heart and mind and did more than 99% of other people would do with the same skills and a near perfect diet..

Getting to relax in between fights, be who he wants to be and eat what he wants, but integrate that into shifting into a gruelling camp where at the end he's in the ring in prime shape about to go to war,,,
I personally don't think he could have achieved what he did any other way...
Science would prove a healthier diet throughout would lead to a better performance, but human's have a nature that science doesn't account for..

And Hatton entered the ring in his entirety every time.. Beer's, burgers, and all.. And didn't do half bad.