13.12.03 – By Spud Woollatt: In the 11th defence of his WBU World Light Welterweight Title, Ricky Hatton showed the world he has truly arrived not only as a world class boxer but in addition as a viable threat to any Light Welterweight in the world. Ricky Hatton demolished Ben Tackie in 12 one sided rounds in a packed MEN Arena in Manchester, where 16,000 fans cheered their hero’s every move. Many boxing pundits were stating that perhaps Tackie’s only chance of victory was to catch Hatton cold in the early rounds as Eammon Magee did in a previous defence, alas for Tackie this was not to be as Hatton raced out from the very first bell to give Ben Tackie a boxing lesson. However there were also many pundits who stated Hatton had to show more than just his trademark body punching onslaught and their wish was granted. There was not one department of the boxing skills manual where Tackie could find a flaw in Hatton’s Armoury!!
From the first bell, it was utterly clear Ricky Hatton’s fight plan was to impose himself on Ben Tackie and not give his opponent one ounce of confidence to launch his own attacks. Hatton switched his attacks from the body to the head. Despite Tackie having a reach advantage of nearly 4 inches he found himself being too slow and ponderous, and he was not only having to take body punches from all angles but in addition he was also being out jabbed as well.
In rounds 4 & 5 saw punches after the bell, one from each fighter and it was only the quick intervention from Yorkshire Referee Micky Vann which stopped some possbile ugly scenes from either fighter. This should however not detract the obvious outstanding Ricky Hatton performance.
Round 6 saw Tackie come out fired up and determined to stop the Hatton charge. It would have been wrong at this stage for Hatton to become involved in a slugging match and after some early Tackie success in the earlier stages of the round, Hatton reverted to his boxing skills, and as such landed some significantly telling punches towards the end of the round which appeared to deflate the Africans confidence.
In rounds 7 & 8 it was felt these were Ricky Hatton’s best rounds of the whole fight as he landed with some awesome shots which seemed to knock out any chance of the African turning the fight on its head.
It could be argued the best round of the fight for Ben Tackie was the last round where he rushed forward in utter desperation to try to find a much needed knock out punch and in addition to win a round to stop a complete “shut out” points victory. Alas for Tackie it was not to be. Ricky Hatton was announced as the unaminous points victor.
Ricky Hatton and his promoter Frank Warren can surely look forward to massive fights in 2004. Warren indicated Hatton would now take a much needed holiday and would possibly fight again in April. Already the rumours are starting of a possible fight with Sharmba Mitchell.
Eastside Boxing congratulates Ricky Hatton it what was the best performance of his career to date.