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The Hitman verdict
Last updated: 11th December 2007
It was a night of bravery, endeavour and ultimate disappointment for Manchester's Finest, as Floyd Mayweather confirmed his status as the best fighter on the planet.
Where did it go wrong for Ricky? Could he have done anything differently? Did referee Joe Cortez cramp his style and stop him fighting the fight - inside - that he wanted? Or was Mayweather just too classy for there ever to have been any other result?
Share your thoughts with us on the Big Fight.
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Comments
Richard Borwell says...
Dont think anyone is saying Hatton would have won if Cortez had let things go and i no nobody wanted a semi wrestling match(stupid comment). However the reason we all watched the fight was to see if Hatton could fluster Mayweather, slowing him down with constant pressure and body shots, Maybe finding a crack in his perfect defence or whether Mayweather really was as good as we all feared. Unfortunately we still dont no and probly never will! Mayweather is undoubtable an amazing boxer but i will never accept the result fully due to the dismal show from Cortez in the first 4 rounds and the embarrasin point deduction which was pretty much the end of the fight! Keep going Ricky lad your still a hero in every ones eyes!!!
Posted 07:06 29th December 2007
Scott Roberts says...
Cortez should be stripped of his referee license! He was a disgrace and was obviously paid to disrupt the fight as much as possible. Making it near impossible for Ricky to get inside. Just goes to show that Floyd was not as confident as he made out, that other people had to intervene and move the fight in his favour. I'm disappointed with some of the comments below, comparing Hatton to the England football team because he lost. We're not talking about a team of men, not living up to their expectations and ability. We're talking about one man, who has carried his titles like a true king. One man who has time and time again proved himself and one man of who we should be proud of as a national hero, a great ambassador for the sport and one of the greatest boxers of his generation. Happy Christmas Ricky, I still believe in you.
Posted 10:24 24th December 2007
Ifeanyi Chukwulobelu says...
Pre match the British fans or Hatton were a disgrace. They booed the American national athem which is just disrespectful. Just because of this act i wanted the British to go home empty handed and Floyd assured this with his skill.
Posted 18:40 22nd December 2007
Paul Pablo says...
Ricky put up a good fight on Saturday, but unfortunately found himself out of his depth. Although being British i wanted to believe Ricky could do it, common sense told me a brawler with limited skill could never beat a 5 weight world champ like Floyd Mayweather Jr. Mayweather looked impressive and dominant throughout and Ricky looked a beaten man when he walked in the ring. Go back to light welterweight and get an easy win over another brit, then bring out a get fit quick video and get ready for pantonmine mate, alrite arry. ha
Posted 00:32 14th December 2007
Terry Goodman says...
Floyd Mayweather is not a 5-times world champion for nothing, and he showed he was a class above Hatton. I wanted Ricky to go the distance, but alas it wasn't to be. Floyd showed how to avoid being hit and how to hit someone from unseemingly difficult angles, though i do think that Cortez should of had a word with him regarding his ducking to waist height everytime Ricky came forward to go on the inside. I don't think Ricky should come back up a weight unless he can beat the likes of Mayweather, which in my mind will never happen. I love watching hatton, as he gives excitement and value for money, but last Saturday was a bridge to far. Are there any fights that can gather his hunger back in the Light Welter division?. If the answer is no, then he should retire knowing that a fighter, who class is up there with Ray Leonard, was the only person to beat him.
Posted 14:15 13th December 2007
Chris Jones says...
Well Ricky it was always going to be hard when you have gone up a weight, and floyd has been comfortable at that weight for a long time, but you still gave britain a good name, you fought great. The ref was a discrase, everytime you got into mayweather he would stop it, basically he would not let you fight as you would like, mayweather is a tactital fighter and he was timing his punches, but ricky is more of a brawler so it was a very different fight. Do not quit !!! do not listen to people who say that, your a great fighter always will be, one of the best. I think you should get more training at that weight and call him back out, because we all know you could beat him, you just need to get a different ref and save more energy for the whole fight, because you went out like a rocket and you was getting tired but to keep that speed up for 10 rounds showed great stamina, if you come back and beat mayweather, then you will be the greatest boxer in the world, if your not comfortable at that weight go back down and destroy the 'magic man' keep trying ricky, you did the country pround...you kept me up till 6am haha ...exciting fight, don't give up!!
Posted 13:11 13th December 2007
Julie Yates says...
Well done ricky !! The ref was bang out of order didnt allow ricky to get up and close to mayweather,also he shouldnt of taken a point away from ricky because he didnt even hit his head he hit the ropes.I wonder how much mayweather payed the ref to keep ricky from punching and bruising that smug little face of mayweathers.I think ricky was run down (coldsore) and 14 weeks of training burnt him out.Hes not a brawler at all hes a skilled boxer and were all so proud of him for doing his up most best but u cant win them all matey.Happy Christmas everyone xxxx
Posted 16:59 12th December 2007
Gavin Peace says...
Well done Ricky, never mind what anybody else says - you did us proud and made me more proud than ever to be British. You stepped up a weight to fight the best pound for pound at their more natural weight and he was worried - especially when you caught him in the first. Proud of you fella!
Posted 14:25 12th December 2007
William Taggart says...
It was obvious Ricky was going to find it extremely difficult with the weight Rickys best fighting weight is light welter,dont fight oscar Ricky either as im afraid the same fate would await you in that fight ,i would love to be wrong ,but these fighters are one offs who come round every 20 years,thats why they can go up a stone or two in weight classes ,It was plain to see from the collazzo fight at welter .If he had problems with him ,he was definetly going to have trouble with floyd,and floyd new this. As for the national anthem biusness ,its the same wih the football its out of date now boys. A good fight for Ricky would be Witter as hes been calling him out long enough and if Ricky loves the fans ,go and knock this guy out.
Posted 11:41 12th December 2007
Proud to be English says...
I watched the fight and many comments here are correct, Ricky got beat fair and was simply out classed. I just hope the Americans dont think the majority of the English population would act like the fans did out there and boo the American national anthem, because although im english...it was disgraceful. Im sure many that were booing were indeed football fans and yobs who dont know how to be proud with courtesy. This is how football is turning our country...the problem is these fans dont realise there completely showing us up, but this is what alot of english football fans have become. you wouldnt get the same type of support in a sport such as rugby, im sure the fans would still show great support but they wouldnt boo a national anthem, thats english football yobs for you. I hope the Americans can sympothise and understand that the fans booing attitude should not determine what you think of the English...but Ricky Hattons heart, determinationand charisma should...he took the defeat on the chin, literally, and i was glad to see himself and his opponent shake hands and smile afterwards. Ricky Hatton managed to win alot of American hearts, but the fans countered that reaction of what the USA thought of the English with their yobish behaviour. Show some respect next time lads and dont show our country up. Its such a shame, i just hope the Americans realise not all the English behave in that manner and do have respect for others.
Posted 14:20 11th December 2007
Steven Martin says...
My wife and I love to watch Ricky Hatton but I think it is fair to say that Floyd Mayweather is by far a much better boxer at this weight. Unlucky Ricky, hopefully you will come back stronger in the near future.
Posted 12:57 11th December 2007
Johnny Goodwin says...
Some Observations: (1) Floyd Mayweather is a better all round fighter than Hatton, without doubt or question (2) Hatton looked uncomfortable before the fight had started, caught up in the occassion, nervous energy pouring out of him. Perhaps part of the reason he tired so quickly. (3) Cortez's interference stifled any chance Hatton had and gave the advantage to Mayweather by ensuring the bout was fought in the American's preferred style. (4) Hatton had no Plan B (some harsher critics than I might say he has no boxing intellect). (5) Many of the Hatton supporters applauded Mayweather after the fight. These were boxing fans. (6) The Hatton supporters who were booing Mayweather and behaving badly were there for the booze and a jolly to Vegas. The fight just gave them an excuse to go. Mindless, taunting yob culture victims, caught up in the mob mentality. Probably decent blokes on their own and sober. Like Hatton, they got a bit carried away with the occasion, which further suggests that Hatton and this element of his followers were out of their depth. (7) Hatton is a working class lad, with the emphasis on 'class'. He swears a bit, makes the odd inappropriate joke here and there, but he's a decent man who wore his heart on his sleeve and behaved with good grace after the fight. He shouldn't be tarred with the same brush as the hooligan element of his support.
Posted 12:09 11th December 2007
Ben Nicol says...
Outclassed. He never let Ricky fight on the inside HA! Watch the fight again Hatton wouldn't have won the fight on the inside either simply because he was not in that class.
Posted 10:49 11th December 2007
Andrew Knowles says...
once again the english fans let themselves down by booing the national anthem of a world champion in his own country. i was fully behing ricky hatton on the night unfortunately mayweather was too cute too classy and too experienced at the division. he even got booed after he won the fight, disgraceful.
Posted 10:46 11th December 2007
Daz W says...
Ricky was too nervous and anxious to impress at the start. He tired at the 8th and thats when mayweather took control. Once the ref started pulling them apart the minute they got close to each other it was over. He negated Hattons style and then the point being taken off left Hatton trying to force the big bunch. The shame is it could have been a classic if it was a different referee. Not to say hatton would have won but he would have atleast worried mayweather.
Posted 10:20 11th December 2007
James Bowden says...
Ricky showed great bravery, but floyd mayweather was a different class. however i believe that referee joe cortez cost ricky that fight after he deducted a point away from hatton for a punch he didnt even land. This caused ricky to have to chase the fight and try and knock down mayweather. This suited mayweather and he managed to knock hatton twice in the 10th round ending the fight.
Posted 09:35 11th December 2007
Jade Syd says...
Yet another Brit bites the dust. The first thing the Brits should do is accept that they are average in sport and that the rest of the world has moved on to higher levels. What supprises me is that you always fool yourselves into being the best be it in Formula 1 Blah blah Lewis this and that (he fainted under pressure), Boxing ha ha or soccer. Trust me on this one you have had good sportsmen like Lennox Lewis nigel mansell, Daly Thompson but to call Hatton or Lewis world beaters makes me laugh at your bad jokes. At least the Springboks are world Champions and guess what? they beat the wind and ego out of you Brits. Don't you think it's time to start respecting the national anthems of other counries.
Posted 06:28 11th December 2007
Will Freeman says...
A great effort from Ricky and i don't remember a nation getting behind one person like this ever happening! He captured the hearts and imagination of the whole country, and many parts of the world to who were all cheering him on. Unfortunately it wasn't to be but he was by no means disgraced. Floyd Mayweather proved he was a cut above and the best fighter on the planet, possibly ever! It is a compliment to Ricky and all that he has achieved to get this fight and be taken so seriously by such a fighter. I feel ricky was outsized and it was a weight to heavy for him and his style of boxing. He wasn't the power house he usually is and he was being hit back as hard, if not harder, at great speed and accurate as hell. It was one step to far but I agree ricky should fight on. After such a successful career you don't finish like that. In my opinion Witter should be his next fight. Unify the division and capture the nation once again with a battle of britain. He fancies his chances of taking Hatton so I say get it on! There is no bigger fight for him, If welterweight is a step to far then de la hoya is out of the question. While he may lack mayweathers speed the power is there as he is naturally a middle weight. Hatton stands to gain from fighting Witter where anything else is just pride fighting. win the wbc title and hold that head up high as undisputed light welterweight champion.
Posted 15:33 10th December 2007
Ali Khanty says...
I'm sorry Ricky lost, but it went exactly as I said earlier on here that it would. Ricky sold out his record and the titles for the almighty dollar. He 'called out' Mayweather too early after his retirement and that Mayweather would fight dirty. When the 22 foot ring was announced, I said that was the final nail in the coffin, but it was'nt . It was that diabolical ref, Cortez. What a disgrace !! Also, Ricky was too over-anxious to get the job done that he forgot to do what he does best. I did'nt see one punch to the ribs. When Mayweather turned away, Ricky should have given him a sample in the kidneys. Well Done Ricky, at least you've made Mayweather famous !!Previously he was an ignorant, no class, piece of crap. Now he's a well-known piece of crap. Don't retire, you're too good !!
Posted 14:39 10th December 2007
Ian Robson says...
Hatton was beaten by the better boxer but gave it all he had but is in the wrong weight section. Sorry to the Americans that the anthem was booed on the night. This is a bad habit that has come from English football, sad!
Posted 14:00 10th December 2007
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