Ricky Hatton, also known as Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton is a British light welterweight boxing champion. He is considered to be one of the best boxers to ever come out of Manchester. In his career, Hatton has won several championships including an IBO and IBF Light Welterweight title.
Hatton was born on October 1978 in Stockport, Greater Manchester. When he was younger, Hatton tried out for the Rochdale football youth team. However, it was also around the time that he discovered a boxing club. He soon realized that he loved boxing more than football. When he was 14, Hatton was in the audience during a fight between Chris Eubanks and Nigel Benn. The fight was held in Trafford Stadium.
Hatton debuted professionally in 1997 when he fought against Collin McAuley. The fight between Hatton and McAuley was held in Widnes. The fight ended with Hatton as the winner by a Knock Out in 1. Hatton’s second fight was held in Madison Square Garden.
By this time, Hatton was already gaining popularity in the boxing scene, however, it was his fight against Kostya Tszyu. He went into the fight as the underdog, but when Tszyu failed to respond to the bell for the twelfth round – Hatton was declared winner via technical knockout. That victory for Hatton is considered by many as the best victory for any British boxer in 20 years.
In the span of his career, Hatton had moved from Light Welterweight to Welterweight and then back again. He did this the first time when he went up against Luis Collazo. He won that fight and gained a WBA crown in the process. He then went back to Light Welterweight in order to fight Juan Urango and Jose Luis Castillo. Hatton won in both fights. Later on, Hatton returned to the Welterweight division and he went up against Mayweather, Jr. Hatton later on returned to Light Welterweight in order to fight against Juan Lazcano and Paulie Malignaggi.
In 2009, Hatton fought Pacquiao but lost in the second round. After putting his career on a hiatus after his loss, in July 2011, Hatton announced that he would be retiring from boxing.
