In the first of a two-part review, Adam Smith says Ricky Hatton's problems started long before fight night.
Decisions to make, but was Mayweather the right one?
Ricky Hatton arrives home this weekend with crucial decisions to make about his boxing future. Most are appealing for the Hitman to bow out immediately. In the early hours of Sunday morning, that was my immediate thought too.
Let's make something clear straight away. It is Ricky Hatton's decision and no-one else's. I know he will talk at length to his friends and family, but it is Ricky alone who must decide this. Those close to him have their opinions, and I know several are divided, but it is Ricky's call.
There are always high emotions after a massive shock. Rational decisions need to be made in the cold light of day - when the dust settles. Ricky needs to take his time making this hard decision.
I simply cannot believe he has been criticised for not really speaking out yet - some have even said he should have done an interview in the ring afterwards. Come on! He needed to get to hospital, safety is the paramount issue, and all our concerns should have been there. Ricky has been the most accessible top-ranked sportsman we've had in years. That criticism makes me angry.
The early hours of Sunday morning saw a brutal, clinical and frightening conclusion to what could signal the end of his fascinating career. Many questions have been left unanswered, and debate has raged on whether he should hang the gloves up.
The swift halt to proceedings was actually quite sickening. To see Ricky, a friend and a warrior lie prostrate on the canvas after a nightmare two rounds brought a sense of disbelief. Some, who have always been close to the Hitman, shed tears. Ricky has also been crying his eyes out this week. This meant so much to him.
The lethal left hand thrown by the world's very finest in Manny Pacquiao was like a thunderbolt; utterly destructive and for the legion of Hatton fans completely devastating. In years to come, we will remember exactly where we were when Ricky Hatton was felled.
After enjoying a crackling atmosphere in Sunderland, where one of British boxing's new popular figures may yet emerge in Olympic Bronze medallist Tony Jeffries, there were ashen faces as we witnessed the drama unfold in Las Vegas.
Concerning
Whatever one thought pre-fight - and opinion was divided - all debate and arguments ceased during those worrying minutes when Ricky lay on the canvas. It looked very very serious indeed. Ricky texted me a few hours later to say he was OK. It was extremely concerning, and that's the harsh reality of this savage, but so compelling sport.
Thankfully the Hitman seems to be fine; his pride's severely dented, but physically all appears intact. Thank God. Ricky's been trying to keep morale high, surrounded by his family and spending days relaxing in the Vegas heat. Good to see him with a Guinness back in his hand.
In hindsight maybe some of us did use more heart than head, but it's all very well to be wise after the event. We all knew why Manny Pacquiao was such an overwhelming favourite. Southpaw speed, ring movement and sheer class being the phenomenal Filipino's major assets.
Glenn McCrory, Nicky Piper, myself and others felt the size, strength, will and bravery of Hatton would prove be too much for a man who had never fought at light-welterweight and who had come up from light-flyweight. Despite a hunch that Hatton would be too strong for Pacquiao at his favoured l0stone especially if the fight went down the stretch - logic more than prevailed. The fact that it all happened so ruthlessly was the biggest surprise.
I never thought Hatton could topple Floyd Mayweather - I did think he had a chance to overwhelm Pacquiao, however hard it looked on paper. Yet I always felt the opening two rounds were crucial. How that proved to be the case! Hatton was in serious shape, and looked healthy when we saw him in the build-up. What did worry me was that he had been troubled by some of his southpaw sparring partners - and not all was smooth inside the camp.
Mission
My colleague Declan Johnson was very impressed with the professional and harmonious Pacquiao crew and said weeks ago that if the fight was based on what was seen in the two camps, it was a no contest - Pacquiao would triumph easily.
Floyd Mayweather Snr was always an odd choice - and so very different in nature and in fight strategy to Ricky Hatton. The ego Mayweather had shown before seemed to go to an entirely new level over the last three months. His poetry was repetitive, tedious and obnoxious, and Mayweather was certainly more interested in the TV cameras (just watch
24/7 back and look at his performance again) than the mission in hand.
Ricky was fuming when Mayweather turned up late. One of the days we were in Vegas filming, Floyd was holding a large soft drink in one hand, while at the same time trying to do his combination work. We had to ask him to put the drink down so we could get some serious shots.
He didn't turn up to see Ricky run, and I think, for the money that he was being paid, that is not on. I vented my own concerns to the camp. The one thing a trainer should be is involved and supportive at all times he's needed. One got the sense that the Hitman was quite a lonely figure, just getting on with his own work.
Lee Beard's a lovely guy, who possesses an acute boxing brain, and I have been impressed with him since we first met. Lee is very inexperienced on the big stage but had to become more and more instrumental before this fight, because of the problems with Floyd. Maybe it was all too late, but if Ricky fights on, Lee Beard could well become the head trainer.
Reckless
Mayweather wouldn't do southpaw pads - a catastrophic mistake in my eyes( Hatton's jabs in the early seconds of the fight were falling short and off target) and big changes were attempted in the final few days. Close members of Hatton's entourage and family were concerned.
These stories surfaced in the hours leading up to the big showdown and Mayweather's distance on the night was clear to see. After the inevitable split with Billy Graham, should the Hattons have headed for Freddie Roach's Wildcard gym?
I love everything about Freddie, and as I reported in the build-up, Freddie likes Ricky Hatton. He reminds him of his reckless fighting days - albeit at a much lower level. Wouldn't he have been the perfect choice? Freddie is hands-on, a master tactician, ever so amiable, and he could probably have tightened Ricky up, while keeping those natural attacking tendencies intact.
Look what he's doing with Amir Khan. Freddie doesn't want to take away Amir's offence and speed, he just wants to adjust his defence. Plus Ricky would have had the benefit of terrific sparring, and a thriving gym with colourful characters and a superb atmosphere. Just like those old days in the Phoenix camp.
Freddie really wanted to train Ricky. Maybe he still can - or is it just too late? Freddie said that Ricky needs to think long and hard about his plans. You get the feeling Freddie wants him to call it a day. Freddie now battles with Parkinson's disease and admits he went on too long.
Freddie Roach is the man. He told me that Oscar De La Hoya wouldn't last eight or nine rounds with Pacquiao, and that Hatton would be knocked out within three. I need to take note! Freddie studied tapes on the Hitman for two-and-a-half months. He knew exactly how to beat him.
Awesome
Attention of course has been on Hatton in Britain, but let's also pay homage to Manny Pacquiao - he was awesome. His footwork, movement, ring cunning, accuracy and timing were perfect. I didn't think he used to be the smartest fighter. Roach has transformed him into a well-oiled machine. No longer does he have to simply rely on his fantastic left hand - it was the short right hook that led to Hatton's undoing.
They had worked on that punch day after day in the gym, because of the way Hatton throws his left. Roach's new assistant Michael Moorer had continually told me that the short right hook was key in this fight. Ricky sounded confident on the phone on the day of the weigh-in, but when I saw Manny's shape on the scales, I was worried. The little man looked big and strong, even at 9st 12lbs or 138lbs.
The weights on the night probed to be largely irrelevant. Hatton was 152 pounds (10st 12lbs), Pacquiao 148 (10st 8lbs), but it was Pacquiao who was the powerhouse, comfortable and healthy at the weight. Most crucially he turned out to be the puncher. Manny's conditioner Alex Ariza told us that size wouldn't matter, and that Pacquiao would be immensely powerful at 10 stone.
Beforehand Amir Khan, Pacquaio's stablemate and Hatton's friend, sensibly sat on the fence but he highlighted the fact that Pacquiao had been dropping sparring partners - something he doesn't tend to do. Evidence of his power carrying well to 10 stone.
No-one had ever even come close to dethroning Ricky Hatton at light-welterweight. Pacquiao annihilated him with speed and precision. Manny then celebrated, but he is a humble man and complimented Ricky too. Let's take our hats off to Manny Pacquiao - legendary status will surely lie ahead.
Pacquiao's career has astonishingly spanned 10 weight divisions as he's conquered the best from light-flyweight to welterweight, but this was his most sensational KO yet. Never mind knockout of the year, this could be knockout of the decade! It was unbelievable...
Part Two of Adam's blog will follow on Monday
