Quote Originally Posted by CFH View Post
Quote Originally Posted by miles View Post
That is sad if it is true. I think maybe he is just too lazy to get into decent shape any more. He said he was coming back and then straight away went on holiday for 3 weeks. That is not the sign of a man intent on coming back and proving a point. He's probably had a few lazy sessions in the gym, realised he has no trainer, is fatter than ever, watched Urango get stopped and just thought "What's the point?".

Hatton has had a good career, but you have to wonder what might have been if he had stayed disciplined throughout his 20's like fighters like Mayweather and Mosley. Hatton is 31, but probably aged a few years beyond that point now.

On reflection it is probably the best decision to make. Hatton is obviously not mentally where he needs to be and that means he will be vulnerable against the younger breed of fighters. Hatton at his best beats them, but I'm now convinced that he knows himself that a year out has seen him slip even more.
I think a lot of it has to do with his style as well as his diet and drinking habits. He never had the defensive skill of a Mosley or a Mayweather and he has absorbed a lot of punishment. His chin is not what it used to be and I think that has a lot to do with him retiring.
Agreed, he has always eaten too many punches and at the top level I think maybe the damage has accumulated. He was never going to build up 20 title defences fighting like he did against Tszyu every fight and Hatton himself knew the warning signs were there, whence trying to adapt his style towards the end, but he was unable to to change really. He still ate punches and Manny made it tell in a rather uncompromising fashion.

I do feel Hatton wasn't quite fighting regularly enough for someone who could so easily get out of shape and in the end losing those pounds looked like it got harder as the years wore on. He was looking really drawn at the Pac weigh in. When half your camp is about losing weight, then you really aren't focussing on learning new skills. At the top level when skills should be coming more into focus, I feel Hatton began to slip and fall into bad habits. It could have been a little better, but taking into account those quibbles I have, he really did have an excellent career.

I hope he decides to at least stay in half decent shape now he's retired because he really doesn't look healthy at all right now.