27.03.06 – By Michael Klimes: Nigel Benn, the ‘Dark Destroyer’ was once described by Bob Arum as ‘the most exciting fighter in the world’. Benn’s gifts were his steel fisted hands, fiery resolve to punish his opponents whatever they through at him and his fearful ability to be at his most dangerous when he was hurt. Benn had been frequently praised as a ‘wounded tiger.’ If he was plastered with a beautiful uppercut he had the power to counter attack with one of his slinging left hooks. Benn’s flaws were a reckless defence and stamina problems caused by an inability to pace himself properly. To his credit, Benn got better with age and fought more strategically as he got older.
Hatton is the most explosive attacking fighter to emerge from Britain’s shores in ten years and is the natural heir to Arturo Gatti. In some ways he is also the natural heir to Benn. He never stops coming forward; he is a peerless body puncher with what is surely one of the most energy exorcising left hooks to the body in years and is a merciless predator.
Hatton, however, is different in several major and positive ways. He does not have Benn’s mystical one hit wonder punch and although this can be seen as a disadvantage, in reality it is not. Hatton can maintain a fighting intensity far longer than Benn ever could and is not relegated to the one dimensional hope of landing the lucky sucker punch if he is having his head stained with the smear of a graceful jab. Equally crucial is Hatton is a fighter that is much more versatile than Benn ever was. He jumps around on his feet much more, circles well and can box when he wants to.
Whenever Benn came into contact with a slick counter puncher like Chris Eubank, especially in their first classic encounter, he was hit by Eubank’s very effective counter right hand leads. Eubank was also adept at snapping out his sneaky jab. Benn’s defence was almost non-existent and although it made a great fight, Benn could have minimised the damage if he does what Hatton does so well.
Instead of just plodding into punches Hatton will throw his jab or alternatively a right hand lead to keep his adversaries on the defensive and off balance. Before they know it Hatton has got himself onto the inside where he is at his most lethal yet mystifyingly beautiful. Hatton is one of the best combination punchers in the world. Immediately this may sound controversial to some people but he reminds me of Roberto Duran and Mike Tyson in this respect.
Tyson and Duran are two of the most gifted fighters of the past thirty years. They had skills, which purely offensive fighters rarely have. Duran had an impeccable head feint and Tyson the ‘peak a boo’ style that combined holding the hands high and the weaving and bobbing style of Joe Frazier. They were both work demons that followed their opponents with an incessant rage.
Hatton has the same blood pumping through his veins. He cannot only box his way onto the inside but take the punches as well (if he need be). His third technique is holding his hands over his face in a high guard and then simply pushing through, using sheer strength against his unfortunate cannon fodder.
Once Hatton gets his man on to the ropes his barrages are ridiculous. His hands are very fast and these are not pathetic punches he is launching. These are grazing hooks and uppercuts that go to the body and head. A boxer that attempts to shield themselves is in a futile act. Your arms cannot be in two places at once.
Another impressive component of Hatton’s style is his ability to bury himself in another man’s chest if he needs a rest. He clinches very effectively and then just moves back ever so slightly, still remaining on the inside and hits with his kidney shots. Just think of taking one of those punches! Hatton has probably made more boxers piss blood the next morning than any other fighter active today. If someone is doing that, he is a body puncher of exceptional precision and power.
Hatton can also rough up his opponents and bend the rules a bit, which is always welcome. This is what Lacy failed to do against Calzaghe and is a major reason why he was so outclassed. Although Hatton is a brilliant fighter in attack, he knows there will be other men of talent superior to his own, particularly Mr Mayweather. To compensate for that you do two things: Fight dirty and wrestle. Hatton is a great wrestler and fighting on the ropes is what Ken Norton declared when he sat at ringside, commenting on ‘The Thrilla in Manila’,’ There is no playing around on the ropes. This is when men become men.’ Hatton is man in a monster’s body.
The brain of Hatton is another quality as he can think when he fights, which is crucial because he can apply what he has learned and trained. Preparation is fruitless if one cannot apply it in the ring when there is a need for it in order to win the fight.
Finally the greatest ally Hatton has is this: All the greatest fighters of all the different eras and styles have had it, footwork. Hatton has the footwork of a ballerina. He follows his opponents superbly. He is also on perfect balance when he arches his hip and shoulder for a crunching left hook to the body and has the art of balance few boxers have the blessing of.
Look at the Evidence:
What is so encouraging about Hatton is one sees him progress if you look back on his fights. The sensational fitness and enthusiasm to get his man was always there. When he defeated Tony Pep, a tall and rangy fighter for the W.B.U title we see Hatton’s custom body shots. He stops him with the right hook to the body. Beforehand he had hit him with exquisite left hooks. By the time Hatton fought the skilful but aged veteran Freddie Pendelton (who was 38), Hatton was maturing rapidly. He was only 23 and made an emphatic win against someone who was former I.B.F lightweight champion, had campaigned in 77 bouts and took on Felix Trinidad, Roger Mayweather and Pernell Whitaker.
His first trouble was against the slick counter puncher Eamonn Magee, the tough Irishman floored him in the first round. Hatton did well to regain his composure and asserted himself thereafter. Hatton boxed his way back into the fight.
In combat against Michael Stewart in an I.B.F eliminator in 2004, The Hitman floored him the first round with a body shot and knocked him down again with a straight right. Hatton’s right hand was becoming a more devastating punch itself. Hatton looked faster, more powerful and a more precise puncher. He was just getting better in every department.
Then he finally silenced all his critics by his performance at the M.E.N Arena.
The Conclusion:
Ricky Hatton is a whirlwind of destruction. I find it just exceptional he can connect all his strengths together with the pace he fights at.