Floyd Mayweather Jr Stops Ricky Hatton in Ten
by Gabriel Montoya at ringside (Dec 9, 2007) Doghouse Boxing (Photo © German Villasenor)        
Before an electric, chanting, singing, nearly all English sellout crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Nevada, Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather

The atmosphere was absolute bedlam as Hatton’s fans banged drums, played horns, and sang the Ricky Hatton anthem along with God Save the Queen and cheered their man on all night long.

Hatton came out to his signature “Blue Moon” in blue trunks with the whole arena screaming along in unison. Looking focused and ready, Hatton bounced along the apron and egged the crowd on to an even higher volume

Mayweather came out to “Born in the USA” by Bruce Springteen, moving towards Hatton as he entered the ring. It was clear from his demeanor what this moment meant to him, the pressure of an entire crowd against him, he seemed more focused than ever.

All the hype was over and it was time to get it on.

The pace was heated right off the bat as Hatton pressed and Floyd retreated, looking to counter. A lead left hook from Floyd was followed by the first clinch of the night about 20 seconds in. Floyd backed away cautiously allowing Hatton to come forward and press the action. A lead right from Floyd scored flush but was answered by a hook to the body from Hatton. A Floyd round off of clean punching but a Hatton type round with it’s physical, wrestling nature.

Hatton’s face was already red by mid round two with Hatton coming face first looking to brawl and Mayweather picking him off and trying to keep things a boxing match. Hatton’s jab began to land as he found the rhythm and range of the ever-moving Mayweather. A big lead right from Mayweather shook Hatton but the tenacious Brit kept moving forward. Mayweather looked a bit bother by the physical nature of the contest but was game as he spun Hatton around and landed a cheap shot prompting Cortez to halt the action and warn both fighters.
Round three was a rough and tumble affair that saw Hatton come away with a bloody eye off a Mayweather elbow. Both men punched as much as grappled and you had to wonder if Floyd was going to hold up under this type of pressure. Floyd landed hard, clean shots inside and Hatton’s body attack seemed strangely absent.

Over the course of the middle rounds Hatton would get increasingly busted up but Floyd would have to work hard for it. The action stayed inside for the most part with Floyd playing matador at others, picking his shots wisely and catching Hatton coming in. Hatton had a good go of it in the fifth but from then on it was all Mayweather, picking spots inside and winning the physical war.

Rounds seven and eight saw the most aggressive Mayweather in years as he opened up on Hatton and actually seemed like he was looking for the stoppage. Hatton would battle back however and bully Floyd into the ropes. Foreshadowing of things to come, Floyd caught Hatton leaping in with a hook and shook the Brit to his core and Floyd opened up again. But as before, the brave Manchester native came right back at Floyd bullied him into the ropes. As expected, Hatton was not going to go quietly.

In round ten however, Hatton came out desperate knowing he needed a knockout to win. A point deduction in round six for hitting Mayweather behind the head only served to solidify this. Hatton began to sacrifice technique for desperation and as before, began to get hit often coming in. Leaping in with a left hook, Hatton got caught by Mayweather’s hook and the old saying of “the ones you don’t see knock you out” rang true as Hatton hit the deck and was clearly hurt. He got to his feet and Floyd seized the chance and put Hatton down again with a delayed reaction off a right hand. Referee Joe Cortez waived it off immediately.

Sidenotes:

In losing to Floyd, Hatton lost none of his fans as they chanted even louder as Hatton regained his senses ands got to his feet. The general consensus along press row was that Hatton brought out the best in Mayweather and I would agree. Mayweather was aggressive because he had to be. He was pinpoint with his shots and fought a tough fight unlike any we have seen in years. I have to wonder and really question however how he would fight if he actually fought a true welterweight contender or fellow champion.


While Hatton helped Floyd to new heights, he brought referee Joe Cortez to new lows. Generally “fair but firm”, Cortez seemed to lean towards Mayweather all night, allowing him to use his open hand to Hatton’s face as well as his elbow. On many occasions Mayweather hit behind the head but was only warned a couple times whereas Hatton lost a point. It was poor officiating at it’s worst.

Now that Mayweather has fought two “money” fights, it is time the “linear” welterweight to fight a true welterweight. Cotto, Williams, Margarito, Cintron, Clottey, etc. No more fighters past their prime. No more fighters coming up in weight. Enough is enough. It is time to see the “linear” welterweight champion fight a welterweight.

I’ve gotten a lot of emails from fans of Floyd dogging me for picking Hatton to win this fight. I’ve given a few reasons why I did. Some tactical, some intangible. One reason stands out above all others however. How can I pick a man who handpicks opponents and avoids the best his division has to offer? If he doesn’t believe in himself enough to pit himself against the division’s top fighters, why should I?




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Gabriel at: Coyotefeather@gmail.com
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