I’m from Canada so I don’t get to back a top fighter from my own country too often. But if Hatton and Mayweather met, and Hatton won… would that be the hugest thing over there?
I would imagine that the country would just go absolutely nuts. Would this be the biggest win in boxing for you guys?
I think most British boxing fans identify with Ricky Hatton, as he is your typical, “bloke from down the pub”. A true Englishman, a sense of pride and rough and ready tactics who wears his heart on his sleeve. Or errr Shorts? ??? ;D
Calzaghe doesnt have the same support, Lewis beat everyone but his wins would not amount (in my opinion) to the win of Hatton against Mayweather.
Benn and Eubank never really got to the heights Hatton would if he beat Mayweather.
So I would say yes, simply because Hatton seems to be on his way to being the most popular British fighter ever.
I agree. I would personally put my money on PBF as I normally would when it is top notch boxer vs. more of an inside brawler. BUT, I can see how the British get right into Hatton because he truly is good, a class act, and if he won it would just be so sweet to be a Hatton fan over there.
I honestly couldnt say who would win, but I really feel Hatton has a massive chance. Zab scared Flloyd for four rounds, but got tired, Hatton doesnt do that.
On the other hand, PBF is too quick and the amount of punches thrown and no doubt landed could affect Hatton, especially as we all know he cuts.
So many factors in a match that is highly anticpated, and thats exactly why.
After Zabs four rounds against PBF we all know the way Hatton fights, it could be a spectacular. Thats when we see how good PBF is, I have no doubts he is amazing, but what happens when he gets roughed up… :o
Usually agree with ya Britkid but gotta pick at something here, Hattons a Northern phenomenon???
I’ll accept his popularity up North is big because of his hometown etc, but are you suggesting he’s not appreciated or as popular down south? That I would have to disagree with. Hatton is popular with nearly all British Boxing fans because he has that one attribute that all Brits love - the British Bulldog/Grinder mentality. The sheer grit. Determination. The I dont care if I’m a 50 point fooking underdog, I’m gonna do this and your gonna see I’m the best. Its the same reason tough guys like Bobby Moore or John Terry will always be more popular (with pure sports fans) than someone like DAcid Beckham. Hattons grit appeals to everyone, North or South and if he won the BOXING nation would go wild. Unfortunately the sport is so under covered here, on a national sports scale it wouldnt make nearly as big a spash.
I wasn’t old enough to witness it live, (although I have seen it) but the experts consider lloyd honeyghan beating don curry as the best win by a british fighter, maybe because it was such an upset. As an englishman, I can safely say it will be a very proud and special moment when hatton beats PBF just as when he beat kostya tszyu, who was suposedly indestructable. Compared to tszyu, floyd is a less formidable opponet by far.
lewis beating tyson gotta be the biggest simply because no one had heard of kosta & no one has heard of PBF so how can they mean that much to the average brit!
Wouldn’t be that big for me, The odds aren’t against Hatton winning enough… with me it rests with Lacy - Calzaghe because so many people wrote Joe off… it wasa bit boost for British Boxing’s profile. After that I’d have to say of all time its Turpin - Robinson.
Nah can’t back Lewis. He even went to my old highschool. He wasn’t a Canadian through and through, he was British guy, who moved to Canada, but kept the accent, but was also kind of Jamaican?
Hatton is British through and through, there is no mistaking that.
Yeh, Lewis’ nationality crops up every now and again. At the end of the day he was born in London and moved to Canada when he was 11 - so He’s British - Same as Greg Rusedski is Canadian
Boxing fans appreciate Ricky Hatton, but the general public in the South East would not recognize him, if he was walking down the street…
As I stated I think ‘generally’ he is a Northern phenomenon, but that is in large part, because the sport just is not as big as it was in the 80s and 90s.
British Boxing has not had a National hero, recognized by the general public as a whole, since Naseem. But at the same time, that is not Hatton’s fault; maybe Warren could of brought him down to London a bit more… but then if you can fit 22,000 into the MEN everytime he fights, you can understand why he did not bother.
Ok, see your point a bit more now. God knows why Warren wouldnt go to other bigger sites that Hatton would probably still sell out quite easy.
Might seem like I’m picking at ya here (well I am, but I’m not meaning it in a bad way ;p) but no hero since Naseem??? I’d say Lennox was up there without a doubt, and especially down South I always remember a lot of people disliking Naseem as a person and doubting his true ability, knowing he would get beat against a quality opponent. I’d argue you have to go back to Benn and Eubank if you’re not counting Lewis here.