Ricky Hatton vs Floyd Mayweather: When Hatton fought the perfect of his period and conquered Las Vegas

In 2007, when Ricky Hatton fought Floyd Mayweather, Las Vegas was the unrivalled capital of boxing. The very best fighters within the sport took up residency there. But it surely had by no means seen something like Ricky Hatton’s takeover of the desert metropolis.

Someplace between 20,000 and 30,000 Hatton supporters travelled to the Strip for the occasion, despite the fact that the venue that may host the combat, the MGM Backyard Area, solely had a capability of simply over 16,000.

By midweek, even at 4am, the chants of his followers had been nonetheless echoing via the corridors of the MGM.

Hatton had constructed an unimaginable fanbase as he had risen via the UK boxing scene and change into the super-lightweight world champion. His reputation snowballed when the British phenomenon got here to America.

Hatton had his first combat within the US, and stepped as much as welterweight for the primary time, when he beat Luis Collazo to win a world title in a second weight class in 2006. He had two bouts in Las Vegas forward of Mayweather and made an influence with the gorgeous physique shot he used to knock out Jose Luis Castillo.

That win fuelled confidence that Hatton couldn’t solely tackle Mayweather however beat him. Castillo had troubled Mayweather, and Hatton with larger power and that aggressive method, it appeared, may do the identical.

Mayweather and Hatton had been the right contrasts in boxing types and outsize personalities. The American was a celebrity, who had crushed Oscar De La Hoya to tackle the mantle of the pound-for-pound king of the game. He flaunted his huge wealth, throwing fistfuls of money at Hatton within the build-up to the combat. Mayweather heckled him at any alternative.

He performed the villain expertly whereas Hatton was all the way down to earth, witty and nearly inconceivable to dislike.

Neither had misplaced earlier than, and Mayweather by no means would. Their mixture made for probably the most memorable evening of both man’s profession.

The environment on the weigh-in alone reached a fever pitch. Marshalling the electrical noise, Hatton was fired up, maybe too fired up, as he led the chants of the group. Mayweather appeared uncomfortable and the sensation that Hatton may rattle him was rising ever stronger.

The combat evening itself was a heady combine. Celebrities, Denzel Washington and Brad Pitt amongst them, in touching distance of boxing greats, Sugar Ray Leonard and Tommy Hearns, all overwhelmed by the wall of sound from Hatton’s raucous British supporters.

Hatton did convey the perfect out of Mayweather, creating a greater spectacle than even legends like Canelo Alvarez, Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao managed.

The Mancunian appeared to stroll via Mayweather’s punches and apply unrelenting strain like he had in opposition to Kostya Tszyu, Hatton’s best victory.

He stored in contact within the first half of the competition, however was disrupted by what he perceived as referee Joe Cortez’s over-eagerness to name break once they had been on the within. Hatton was satisfied it was stopping him from boxing the place he needed to take the combat, up shut the place he may use that famend physique assault.

“Traditionally I get stronger as the fight progresses. Because of the referee breaking my rhythm I tired quicker than usual. That is something that will always make me wonder ‘what if?'” Hatton informed Sky Sports activities.

He was the one who grew disrupted and ragged. He was delivery punishment.

Then Mayweather landed one of the vital well-known punches of the twenty first century.

His verify hook intercepted Hatton because the Briton charged ahead. It was a contact of brilliance. That marvellously timed left hook despatched Hatton careering headlong right into a corner-post. It put him down for under the second time in his profession.

He rose, however Mayweather despatched him again to the canvas as his coach Billy Graham threw within the towel and Cortez waved off the combat.

Regardless of the crushing loss, Hatton’s trademark sense of humour was obvious within the speedy aftermath.

“What a fluke that was!” he quipped whereas nonetheless within the ring.

That showcase for Mayweather underpinned the enduring admiration for and curiosity in his profession, that remained at a stratospheric degree of stardom, culminating in his 2015 superfight with Pacquiao, probably the most profitable of all time.

For Hatton the end result in opposition to Mayweather by no means diminished his standing. His fame and the love the general public had for him solely grew from it. Nobody felt like Hatton had allow them to down. However that loss wounded him.

“It was my first defeat in 43 fights. I had 75 fights as an amateur, winning 72. I won eight national amateur titles, I boxed for England at every level. I won British and world titles but, all of a sudden, I got beat. I wasn’t used to it,” he stated.

“I didn’t just turn up for my biggest payday. I genuinely, genuinely thought I was going to beat him. When I didn’t, things went south for me. I was devastated. I felt I hadn’t been given a chance. Bit by bit, it sent me sideways.”

Hatton would change into an envoy for a psychological well being charity and spoke overtly about his struggles, with a purpose to assist others experiencing related issues.

“It [his depression] was always there from day one. I think after the Mayweather fight it triggered,” he stated. “The Mayweather fight came, and I felt like I’d let the country down. I told everyone I was going to win, and I didn’t. I couldn’t leave the house.

“All people is aware of about my psychological well being. However I do not assume anybody knew in-depth how dangerous it was.”

It was his biggest fight – no one but Hatton could break British pay-per-view records at five o’clock in the morning – and showcased so much of what his supporters loved about him: his courage, his determination, his charm and his humour. And even though he did not win, he also showed he could mix proudly with the greats.

Hatton later reflected: “Deep down, after I see a few of [Mayweather’s] performances in opposition to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, Miguel Cotto and different nice fighters, I pushed him probably the most.

“Manny Steward [the legendary Kronk trainer] had it level after five rounds – and that’s even with the referee breaking me. I moved up a weight and I was one of his toughest fights.

“That is ok for me.”