Was Ricky Hatton’s biggest fight his weight?
Today’s boxing scene really has a buzz at the moment. Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder, Anothony Joshua are now household names. When I was growing up in the U.K., we were blessed with talents like Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank, Naseem Ahmed…. It seemed like every month there was a high-profile fight.
I would lose my love for boxing in the 2000’s. In the late ’00s, all of that was to be replace by this phenomenon, which is MMA, particularly in the UFC (I guess like most people).
But reminiscing on the latest episode of Martial Arts Chat Podcast with our guest and boxing expert Ben Leonard, we got talking about favourite fighters, and a particular favourite that often come up from U.K. fans is Ricky the Hitman Hatton.
A man of the people and a true warrior. Ricky wore his heart on his sleeve with a lot in his professional and personal life. In between fights you’d see his weight balloon MASSIVELY and then come fight night he was lean and ripped. But you’ve got to imagine that would take its tole and, on this show, we debated whether it did or not.
” I loved Ricky Hatton, he was a warrior. He didn’t fulfill his potential and that’s his own fault for treating his own body so poorly in between fights!” Ben said.
“I mean he only ever lost three fights, Mayweather, Pacquiao and then his failed comeback… It was like watching your mate getting beaten up, and you just think to yourself, you didn’t need to do that.”
No shame in two of those three losses, but one can’t help wonder what a different fighter Ricky might have been had he dedicated himself to a healthier lifestyle, but one could also argue, do you take away what makes the man great.
We discuss this and more boxing chat on our latest Episode, be sure to check it out and massive thank you again to MYMMANEWS, Eric and the team.
Listen to “Ben Leonard of Beast Gear” on Spreaker.
