28.05.06 – By James Slater: Ricky Hatton has some serious thinking to do. We all saw his struggle with Luis Collazo earlier this month and many of us do not think “The Hitman” deserved the unanimous decision he was given. And yes, Collazo was a much better fighter than previously given credit for – Hatton had no other choice than to admit as much himself later. But I feel it was the new weight that was the primary reason for Ricky’s epic struggle.
At five foot six inches tall and with a reach of only 65 inches, Hatton is very short and has a distinct disadvantage fighting in the 147 pound division. Also, Ricky is not a one punch KO artist- he overwhelms opponents with his relentless, swarming style. With his strength and stamina he is able to rough fighters up and bull his way to a win. At least this is what he could do – at light welterweight.
Against Collazo, his in-your-face style was no way near as effective as it had been in the weight class below. Luis- apart from a brief stumble in the opening seconds when he was off balance more than anything – took Hatton’s best shots, both to body and head, well. Ricky looked the more hurt fighter on occasion – particularly in the final round. Clearly he must return to his natural weight class if he wishes to see his all-out pressure style of fighting produce its previous results. At light welterweight, I believe Ricky Hatton can go back to doing what he does best – dominate any man in front of him.
But, as the title of this article states, this piece is about what would have happened if Ricky had had to face greats of the welterweight division from years gone by. I think the probability of what would have happened had Ricky been born at a time when it would have made it necessary for him to have fought men like Hearns, Leonard and Duran, goes to show how he is no welterweight. But since he IS a world champion at 147 let’s compare him against the aforementioned three boxers. Boxers Ricky grew up watching and who he now idolises – especially in the case of Duran.
Ironically, I feel the man who he so admires in Roberto Duran is the one fighter of the three who Hatton would have had the best chance against. Duran, like Ricky, came up in weight to box as a welterweight. He actually won his first world title at lightweight, therefore his achievement of winning belts at both welterweight AND middleweight (with light middle thrown in for good measure) is quite remarkable. But then Roberto Duran was an exceptional fighting man. What then of Ricky’s chances against the man he rates as his number one boxing hero?
Both men measure up fairly evenly. Duran stands five feet and seven inches and has a 66 inch reach – so Roberto has only a slight edge over Ricky here. I believe the fight would have been a war, with neither man giving up. The action would have been fought as though in a phone booth, and Ricky- especially in the later rounds-would have had some success. Duran was in condition to go fifteen rounds but Hatton is no slouch in the stamina department himself. This one would have gone right down to the wire and after fifteen gruelling rounds that produce not one knockdown- the winner by unanimous (but close) decision would be- “The Hands of Stone” Roberto Duran. Surprisingly, Duran is completely unmarked afterwards while Ricky sports a swollen and reddened left cheekbone, along with some puffiness beneath the eye. Nonetheless, Ricky does England proud in giving the great Duran all he can handle – both taking and giving some venomous punches.
Fighting Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns was a most intimidating thing for most any welterweight, due in large part to Tommy’s astonishing measurements. At six foot one inches tall and with a reach of 78 inches Hearns had massive advantages over any 147 pound boxer he ever fought. There would be no change in this department in a bout with England’s “Hitman”-Ricky Hatton. Add Tommy’s vaunted punching power to the equation and you have a recipe for disaster for Ricky. In a fight that is somewhat similar to Hearns’ destruction of Duran, Tommy comes out firing and Ricky is completely overwhelmed from the very start. He cannot get anywhere near Tommy to land anything of significance and is badly wobbled half way through the first three minutes. Showing great courage, he manages to survive to hear the bell. But as he walks back to his corner it is clear that he needs a miracle to win this one. Ricky comes out for round two with his head down, in an attempt to keep his chin tucked in and out of harms way, and rushes Hearns- trying his absolute best to unload some bombs. He briefly has Tommy on the ropes but Hearns boxes his way out and then circles Hatton, waiting to strike with the right hand. As Ricky comes rushing forwards again he is met with Tommy’s fearsome right cross, which lands flush on his jaw. Hatton crumbles to the canvas and though he shows his warrior’s heart by trying to rise he cannot do so and is counted out while on his knees. It is all over. The fight to decide who the real “Hitman” is ends as a win for the man from Detroit. “There is only one Hitman!” says Tommy, with a glint in his eye afterwards.
“Sugar” Ray Leonard is one of the all-time greats of boxing – regardless of weight class. But it is as a welterweight that he boxed while at his absolute peak. Though charming and good looking and with a ready smile for the cameras when outside the ring, Leonard had a heart as mean and tough as any fighter when inside it. At five foot ten and with a reach of 74 inches Ray doesn’t exactly tower over Ricky but he has an advantage all the same. Ray’s blurring speed, of both hand and foot – along with underrated KO power- prove to be the biggest obstacles for Hatton to overcome.
Ricky comes out stalking while “Sugar” glides in and out, firing out his slick jab. Hatton does bull Leonard to the ropes at times but Leonard fights on the inside well. This isn’t in his best interests though, and he soon slips away and the fight recommences in ring centre. Leonard puts on a veritable master class, showing all the moves in his vast repertoire. Ray counters, slips punches, dances with his hands down at times and lets loose with combinations thrown with blinding speed and accuracy. Ricky refuses to give in though, and does make things somewhat difficult for Leonard in the last quarter of the fight. Amazingly, Hatton’s eyes hold up well and there are no problems with cuts – this despite the slashing blows that Ray has landed on occasion. Ricky has his best spell in rounds thirteen and fourteen when a seemingly tired “Sugar” Ray merely back-pedals. This brings it a touch closer on the judges cards but going into the fifteenth and final round “The Hitman” knows he needs a KO to win.
Ray comes out looking for one too – it is apparent that he was simply coasting in the previous two rounds so as to finish strong in the fight. He lets both hands go in classy bursts and has Hatton holding on in the final minute. Hatton’s heart carries him through, however, and the two embrace at the bell. The cards are read out and are as anticipated by the vast crowd. “Sugar” Ray Leonard wins by a wide unanimous decision. He is victorious by a commanding eleven points on one card. But Hatton is rightfully proud of his gritty performance, as he makes clear while being interviewed post-fight. He had absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. He was simply in the ring with one of the top two or three finest welterweights in history.
So there you have it. My interpretation of what would have happened had Ricky Hatton shared a boxing ring with the fighters he grew up watching. I know this is purely speculation and only intended as a bit of fun. But I do think Ricky’s future should be down at light welter. He doesn’t want to give away any advantage whatsoever by fighting the Duran of today at 147- namely Carlos Baldomir, nor does he want to do likewise against today’s closest similarity to Tommy Hearns in Antonio Margarito. And a fight with 2006’s version of Ray Leonard in Floyd Mayweather must be fought at 140 if Ricky is to have a fair chance of winning.
Otherwise we just might see the fictitious outcomes listed above come to life for Ricky- against the modern day equivalents of the three great fighters from the 1980’s!