What now for Hatton?
Last updated: 3rd May 2009
Hatton: what next?
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Ricky Hatton's latest pound-for-pound tilt has ended in heartbreak at the lethal hands of Manny Pacquiao.
A chilling second-round knockout condemned the Hitman to only his second loss in 47 fights. It was also the first time he has lost as a light-welterweight.
So where does the Hitman go next?
Glenn McCrory is convinced we will see him back in a boxing ring again, looking to at least bow out in a more fitting fashion.
But Jim Watt believes it is the right time for him to walk away with his head held high and within minutes of the defeat, controversial trainer Floyd Mayweather Snr suggested the same thing.
What do YOU think the Hitman should do? Is it time to hang up the gloves? Are there any more big fights out there for him? And if so, who does he face next?
We want to know YOUR view, so join in the debate by filling in the feedback form below.
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Comments (131)
Ray Campbell says...
Junior Witter is a waste of time, Don't retire. Fight
Posted 15:22 15th June 2009
Luke Coathup says...
i am a huge fan of ricky hatton and i say why should he retire so what if he's been beaten twice hes still won 45/47 fights. plus the 2 fights he lost he fought against 2 top quality boxers paqiuo & mayweather. he might have to a bit of life style changing to stay in the ring but still he is an amazing fighter and has got a good couple of years left in him, come on look at amir khan wanting to fight ricky hatton pfftt. i honestly think Hatton V Khan just to prove thay khan is a nobody.
Posted 10:53 4th June 2009
Tom dixon Mcgowan says...
why should hatton retire?? there are still fights for ricky at light-welter they are'nt going to get him the pound 4 pound title but at the end of the day it takes the best of the best to compete at that level there are still promising fights with the likes of timothy bradly, nate campbell, witter, kotelnik, holt and demetrius hopkins looks a promising young fighter, just becasue ricky has 2 losses doesnt say its time to retire most greats have losses RJJR, pacman, mosley, ali all have losses deserved or not they still are losses and haton has plenty left in the tank provides hes laid of the drink and kebabs since his loss to pac-man.
Posted 09:41 3rd June 2009
Mustaffa Haseed says...
i dont think hatton will even want to retire deep down, he has always wanted to please the fans and he always has done well in doing so, he got destroyed of a great warrior in the ring in 2 rounds and people think he should get out of boxing, hes got at least 3 - 5 fights left in him mabye not for the pound 4 pound title but not many people can compete at the level where mayweather - pacman - mosley - b-hop - RJJR are at it takes true gretnes to do so, but hatton still can go on to win many more fights mabye khan, oscar, witter any of these fights he has what it takes to beat them if he decides to scrap the idea of boxing with style and go back to what hes best at.... battling it out like a true champ he was. also mayweather sr is a great trainer but not for boxers like hatton look what happened with him and oscar, mayweather sr trains boxers not sluggers.
Posted 09:31 3rd June 2009
Nasser Hussain says...
I think Ricky Haton is an exciting fighter who likes to brawl his way into fights, who is relentless and can take punishment ,until he grinds his opponent down and win as he did with Kosta, who was past his best .He is not the most gifted boxer, nor is he the pound for pound best fighter in the world, i'd say he would be lucky to make it in the top ten best british fighters of all time. When he came up against Mayweather and Pacquai he was exposed as an ordinary fighter, who was predicatable, and desperate. I am a big fan of Hatton and have met him on numerous occasoins in Oldam, also when i made my pro debut at the Hilton Hotel in Bradford, he is a lovely guy who like a few drinks with the lads and a fry up regular. He throws caution to the wind with his eating and drinking culture and jeopardizes his boxing career. Based on his previous fight with Floyd and most recent fight with Manny i think he should quit because he cannot deal with the skill and experience of these worlds best pound for pound fighters and could seriously get hurt. Hatton cannot take the punishement he used to take before and get away with it by holding on the last few rounds. However being an ex proffesional fighter in the past and being promoted by the great Tommy Miller. I know that no fighter wants to bow out of the fight game in the devastatng fashion Hatton was beat. In boxing you are remembered for your first fight and last fight, does Hatton want to go out like this ? answer is no!. So i think for his pride sake he should take a non title fight to end his career, which will restore pride and self respect .He can repay the fans for there loyalty, who have paid loads of money to see him in vegas etc. All the best Hatton!
Posted 03:36 3rd June 2009
Mick Mulhall says...
there is only one thing to say JUNIOR WITTER its the fight the british public want and onc more the best fight to retire from after beating witter
Posted 13:59 1st June 2009
Paul Oliver says...
look at it like this. everyone is saying after 2 defeats in his career he should retire. i ask, why should he? what because he was outclassed by two amazing fighters? in the mayweather fight he still went the majority of the fight and mayweather did what he does best picked up steam and dominated the later rounds. Ricky wasnt completely outclassed but he was beat. Just like everyone else mayweather has fought and you cant say ricky is the worst he has come against. Next is the pacquiao fight. Yes here ricky WAS infact outclassed, but for one reason only, he refused to be the conservative fighter and keep his guard up and for that reason he was caught again and again, but thats what pacquiao does, split second accurate shots and lets face it, ricky can be changed in that manner, to learn to defend and be more cautious and think more about his shots. But if he choses to retire then so be it hes had a great career and has nothing to be ashamed of, however i would still pay to see him fight at least 3 more times. Just not as the person mayweather created. The reserved "professional" ricky not hyping up the fans or being happy another point i think he went wrong on. Ricky is just as loved for his showmanship aswell as his explosive boxing. But i guess im ranting now ha.
Posted 00:53 1st June 2009
Matty Hughes says...
What can u say really Ricky has never ducked anyone in the ring hes a true warrior and a gent,as sad as it is i would love to see Ricky begin to bring on other british prospects as a promotor,you will never be forgotten as one of the most exciting british fighter even if u do quit now,but if Ricky fights on i will still stand proud and back him to the full god bless you Ricky,and good lucky to matty against zab!
Posted 06:31 28th May 2009
Callum Rintoul says...
Unfortunately Ricky never had what it took to become pound for pound king, hes an exceptional fighter but his opponents in mayweather jnr and pacquiao looked like a massive step up in class. If he does stay on and fight, who should he fight, a khan fight could destroy his record, or dent British boxings most useful up and coming fighter. He should step down and promote were he is much more needed.
Posted 15:30 27th May 2009
Damien Lennox says...
i am a really big ricky hatton fan and it's sad to see ricky knocked out in that manner. Ithink ricky needs to retire now and look forward to the future as a promotor with the youngster's as for those on here who say ricky never had anything and doe's not eat and live boxing they dont know ricky hatton that well obviously he is one of only a hand few who know there history of boxers and i take my hat of to hatton. Now to manny pacquiao what a performance my son you made me who wanted to see you get knocked out a fan of your's now goade mayweather jnr out of retirement and show him what you did to ricky can be done again!! good lucky manny in everything you do and ricky the whole of great britan is behind you my son!! we love you hatton THERE'S ONLY ONE RICKY HATTON!!!!
Posted 08:17 5th May 2009
Mike Hardy says...
I think that if Ricky truly believes he can learn from that utter thrashing, and go on to become a great boxer rather than just a great brawler, then he should move up to 147 and fight all-comers until his next loss. At that point (pre-announced) he should retire from the sport.
Posted 08:06 5th May 2009
Liam Coyne says...
Ricky has done well for himself in his career. World champion, lots of money, and the most devoted fans in the sport. He has made the most of himself, which is all anyone can do. If he did continue he wouldnt get this sort of superfight again, and im not sure he could really motivate himself and apply himself as he once did. Even though a fight with Khan could be exciting as both are vulnerable, its not something he really needs. He has many great wins to look back on and should enjoy his retirement.
Posted 02:50 5th May 2009
Keith Moreton says...
The facts are clear, Billy Graham an experienced coach told Ricky to retire after the mayweather fight as it was clear to see then he wasnt good enough against the best of the best. However against mayweather he had a right good go. I think that knockout finished Hatton. Look at his fightafter mayweather, against Lazcan in manchester, he got hurt a few times then and in my opinion a better fighter would have ended him. Malinaggi was a joke to be honest and this fight just fuelled hattons ego in to thinking he could mix it at this level. The fact was malinaggi is far below world class and shouldnt have been in the same ring as hatton. Pacquio is a great fighter but I dont think he would have done that to the old ricky hatton. As sad as it is hatton has lost a lot of his punch resitsnace and I believe this went when mayweather knocked him out. Pacquio just added insult to injury and the truth of the matter is if Hatton continues to fight on even against fighters of a lesser quality you are only going to see more of Hatton on the canvas. I hope he does the right thing for him , not the fans not his family but for Ricky, get out lad you have doen yourself more than proud, you have been a true warrior and took so many risks by constantly coming forward an walking on to bombs all of your career, but if he keeps going someone will end him.
Posted 23:50 4th May 2009
Tom Monkhouse says...
Manny pacquaio is beatable as was hatton...i hope it is not the end of hatton as i still firmly believe that he can be pound for pound champion, but that will only happen as soon as he adapts to each fighter he faces, especially at the level he wants to beat people at, all great fighters lose but the manner in which he lost to pacquaio was devasting...if i remember rightly the two or three shots he hit manny with looked like they could easily hurt him but he never got the chance as he didnt pace himself at all...manny is so much more disciplined than ricky, he is a model pro and i would love to see him face/beat mayweather soon...i still think hatton could beat anyone he wanted, as long as he sticks to a more defensive gameplan and obviously he shouldnt always look for a knockout.
Posted 23:21 4th May 2009
Lex Holgate says...
Hatton has to look look at the defeats against Pacman and Mayweather and decide if he honestly believes he can become good enough to challenge these guys. He has been a fantastic champion and a great advert for British boxing. Ricky decided that he wanted the challenge of facing the best pound for pound fighters in the world and has fallen way way short. I think he should walk away now.
Posted 23:06 4th May 2009
Warren Low says...
Having seen Ricky Hatton's two biggest fights against Mayweather and Pacquiao- I have to say he has been utterly embarrassed in both. A good boxer he may be- a real fighter with a lot of heart- but he is never going to be one of boxing's true legends. It was also a nonsense to suggest that the fight was for the "Best Pound for Pound Fighter" crown. I know the fights have to be hyped beyond reality, but surely no-one thought that Hatton ever could be truly thought of as the greatest boxer ever, especially as he has come up short against two better fighters. Manny Pacquiao can truly take his place in the 'legend' category- and he is admirable not only for his boxing skills, but also his humility in victory.
Posted 22:20 4th May 2009
C Barbre says...
If that's the best he can do, obviously Hatton should retire. His complete and utter failure to even keep his hands up (the most basic of boxing principles) against a dangerous opponent was diabolical. That was the worst performance I've ever seen by a title holder. Manny doesn't deserve the plaudits he's getting for that fight. Hatton just let him tag him as and when he wanted to. A journeyman bum could have knocked Hatton out on that form. As you can tell, I'm angry about it. Hatton shamed himself.
Posted 21:13 4th May 2009
John New says...
Just a real shame really that Ricky Hatton never really possessed the skills to be a pound for pound fighter, He just does not have the tools to match his enthusiasm or excitement! I hope he does not carry on because we will all know that he'll be fighting hand picked fighters with a safe value so he can't be beaten. if i was his manager i wouldn't even let him fight Amir khan who has the pace and power to trouble most and as another fighter trained by Roach it would be a gamble.Just got too live up to the facts that all Ricky will be remembered for is a crowd puller who only knew one way !! Steam in !! I Wouldnt even count Hatton at a british top 10 fighter of all time
Posted 20:30 4th May 2009
Mark Evans says...
Definitely time for hatton to quit or risk permanent serious brain damage if he ever fought anyone even half as good as pacman again.Street fighters like hatton always get found out in the end by true boxers like mayweather and pacquiao.It was a massacre on sunday morning ,really pitiful to see
Posted 08:53 4th May 2009
Bobby English says...
One thing that is for sure, Hitman needs to change his style this includes the way he lives outside of the ring. yes he does get the weight off but this is taking up time from his allocated prep where instead of dieting he should be looking at videos of his opponent and working on different styles and technique both defensive and attack. Don't get me wrong as I am sure he does but this is all he should be doing but losing 20-40lb before a fight is going to seriously impact on stamina and strength. Take nothing away from Manny, he thoroughly deserved his win in such a disciplined & destructive manner. For Hatton New trainer, more aggresive/attacking sparring partners and a more disciplined lifestyle all year round. I also question Mayweather being involved in Hatton camp - not at his ability but more that he is related to another boxer in the same weight even though currently retired but now talikng about making a comeback. Your a long time retired, enjoy the bad things like fry ups then whilst on the subject of retirement your health physically and mentally is always important too, damaging either just ain't worth any amount of money because you ain't gonna be able to enjoy it. Good luck Hitman in whatever road you take.
Posted 08:32 4th May 2009