Richard John Hatton MBE, more commonly known as Ricky "the Hitman" Hatton, (born 6 October 1978, in Stockport, Greater Manchester, England), is a English professional boxer. He is a two-time IBF and IBO light welterweight champion, having relinquished the IBF belt, only to move down a weight class and beat Juan Urango.

He was the WBA Welterweight Champion, but relinquished this title on 31 August 2006. Hatton is also the former WBU, WBA Light Welterweight Champion and WBC, WBA, WBO Inter-Continental Light Welterweight Champion, and former Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight Champion.

Biography

Born in Stockport, Greater Manchester, Hatton was raised on the Hattersley council estate in Hyde, Greater Manchester and trained at the Sale West ABC on the Racecourse Estate. He was educated at Hattersley High School.

Both his grandfather and father played for Rochdale, and Ricky had a trial for the youth team. But Hatton found a local boxing club in Hyde, which he still trains at, and found he enjoyed the sport.

Hatton's entrance music is the Manchester City club song "Blue Moon" as performed by the band "Supra." Aged 14, Hatton was taken by his uncles Ged and Paul to Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium to watch the second fight between Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank.

Hatton joined the family carpet business on leaving school, but after he cut four of his fingers with a Stanley knife, his father made him a salesman to prevent him from losing his fingers.

Boxing career

Hatton's debut fight was on 10 September 1997 against Colin McAuley in Widnes at Kingsway Leisure Centre (he won by a TKO in 1), while in his second fight Hatton boxed at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Fight against Kostya Tszyu

On 5 June 2005 Hatton defeated Kostya Tszyu, then widely regarded as one of the top pound-for-pound boxers in the world by a technical knockout after the Australian failed to answer the bell for the 12th round. Hatton was a heavy underdog for this fight, and the victory announced his entry to the upper echelons of the world boxing scene. Prior to the fight the majority of boxing critics had given Hatton little or no chance and this victory was regarded as one of the best victories by an English boxer in the last 20 years. On 26 November 2005 Hatton won the WBA title when he defeated Carlos Maussa in the ninth round of a unification bout. In December, Hatton was named the 2005 Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year.

Hatton relinquished his IBF belt on 29 March, 2006 after refusing to fulfil a mandatory defence against number one contender Naoufel Ben Rabah, because he intended to move up to the welterweight class. Hatton signed a three fight contract with Dennis Hobson's fight academy after splitting from long time promoter Frank Warren. The three fights would take place in the United States.

Moving to Welterweight

Hatton moved up a division to meet American Luis Collazo for the WBA Welterweight crown which took place on 13 May 2006. Hatton won the WBA crown from Collazo but struggled with Collazo's slick south-paw style and the extra weight. Hatton started well, knocking Collazo down in the very first few seconds of the first round, but it turned out to be one of the toughest fights of his career, with some boxing analysts believing Collazo won the fight, although many also thought Hatton had done enough early on in the fight to secure victory, with the knock down a pivotal point in the fight.

Back to Light Welterweight

Hatton's first fight back at Light Welterweight was against the current IBF Light Welterweight Champion Juan Urango on January 20, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hatton's promoter Dennis Hobson stated that the impetus for moving back down was to set up a fight with Jose Luis Castillo, a fighter who nearly beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. at Lightweight in 2002.

Hatton ended up winning a 12 round unanimous decision against Urango, to re-capture the unified IBF and IBO Light Welterweight titles. He won all but one round on all three judges' scorecards. Castillo, who was on the undercard, also won (via split decision), setting up their long-awaited fight.

Hatton was forced to relinquish his IBF title again on 10 February, to be able to fight Castillo. The fight was held on Saturday, June 23, 2007, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. In round four, Hatton landed a "perfect" left hook to the liver, which put Castillo to the canvas. Ricky later claimed that 4 of Castillo's ribs were broken with this one punch. Unable to stand up, Castillo was counted out for the first time in his career.

Return to Welterweight

Hatton vs. Mayweather Jr.

Hatton agreed to terms on Friday July 27, for a December 8, 2007 welterweight fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr which was considered to be the biggest welterweight fight since the 1999 clash between Oscar de la Hoya and Puerto Rican legend Felix 'Tito' Trinidad. The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas was announced as the venue on August 17, 2007. The fight was agreed to less than three months after Mayweather had said he planned to retire following a victory over Oscar De La Hoya.

Hatton was able to bring the fight to Mayweather in the early rounds. In the 1st round Hatton caught Mayweather with a left jab which knocked Mayweather off balance. His constant pressure appeared to make Mayweather uncomfortable at first. In the third round, Mayweather landed a right that cut Hatton above the right eye. In round six, referee Joe Cortez took a point away from Hatton after he appeared to hit Mayweather on the back of the head while Mayweather was rested between the ropes. However, the punch was revealed to have hit the rope rather than Mayweather's head but Hatton was warned for punching behind the head on numerous occasions before the deduction. Hatton became angry at the referee's decision to deduct a point from him and turned his back on him in frustration. Hatton would later claim that he had become angry by the referee and that had caused him to lose his calm and contributed to his downfall. Hatton was able to hold his own, until round eight, when Mayweather began to adapt to Hatton and started counterattacking. Mayweather knocked Hatton to the mat in Round 10. Hatton got up, but Mayweather quickly resumed his attack, resulting in Joe Cortez putting a stop to the fight, and Hatton's corner threw in the towel. Mayweather commented post-match that "Ricky Hatton is one tough fighter. He is still a champion in my eyes and I'd love to see him fight again. "Ricky Hatton is probably one of toughest competitors I've faced. I hit him with some big ones but he kept coming and I can see why they call him the 'Hitman'." The fight received large amounts of publicity, with both fighters promoting the fight heavily.

Back at Light Welterweight

Hatton vs. Lazcano

On 24 May 2008, Hatton beat Mexican Juan Lazcano by unanimous decision with scores of 120-110, 120-108 and 118-110, in front of his home crowd of 55,000 (a post-World War II record for a boxing match in Britain), at City of Manchester Stadium to retain The Ring Magazine and IBO light welterweight titles.Hatton did well when he boxed and controlled the range, utilizing his jab and dominating a lot of the early exchanges. In round eight, Hatton absorbed a left hook to the chin that wobbled him, and in round ten, Hatton was hurt again by a left hook. Despite that, Hatton outworked Lazcano to win at least ten of the rounds.

Hatton vs. Malignaggi

Ricky Hatton fought Paulie Malignaggi of the United States at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas on 22 November for Hatton's IBO Light Welterweight title and Ring Magazine Light welterweight title. He was trained for the fight by Floyd Mayweather, Sr.. Hatton dominated for all of the fight and defeated Malignaggi by 11th-round TKO when Malignaggi's trainer, Buddy McGirt, threw in the towel 48 seconds into the round.

Hatton vs. Pacquiao

Hatton fought Manny Pacquiao on May 2, 2009 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The fight was at light welterweight which was the 5th weight category Pacquiao has fought at, and is the weight at which Hatton was previously undefeated.

Pacquiao defeated Hatton in the 2nd round by a KO victory, after knocking Hatton down twice in the first round.

Outside the ring

Hatton is a passionate supporter of Manchester City, with strong links to the club via his father and grandfather, who are both former players. Ricky also once had a trial at City for the youth team. His entrance music is the club's song "Blue Moon" as performed by the band "Supra". Good friend Wayne Rooney, who plays for arch rivals Manchester United, has been with Hatton in his dressing room before a bout and carried one of his belts to the ring. Ricky's best friend is Lee Rawsthorne, who regularly carries Ricky's belt into the ring. Hatton is also good friends with another footballer, Joey Barton, a former Manchester City player. Ricky also follows the non-league football club Hyde United and often attends home matches . In a recent appearance on "Al Murray's Happy Hour" he admitted that if he could hit one celebrity, it would be Cristiano Ronaldo who at the time played for Manchester United.

Regarding his nickname, Ricky said, "I've always been a fan of Tommy Hearns, and everybody associates that that's where I got it from, but everybody's a Tommy Hearns fan. I got the nickname the first day I walked in the gym. I was 10 years old and put a pair of gloves on and started walloping the bag, and my amateur coach said, "Look at him, look how evil he is. He's a little Hitman."

Hatton is sometimes referred to by boxing fans as "Ricky Fatton" because he's been known to allow himself to weigh as much as 175 to 180 pounds (35 to 40 pounds over his fight weight) when he's not in training for a fight. Ever since Hatton turned professional, he has always opted to eat a full English breakfast before fights - his favourite place in Hyde is The Butty Box in Mottram Road, where he was interviewed by Gaby Logan for Inside Sport; and he is known to drink Guinness on Thursday night when he plays darts for the New Inn. Hatton defends his diet, citing that he plans to retire within the next four major bouts - experts have used his ill-balanced diet, akin to Jake LaMotta's ballooning up between fights, to explain his poor performances in recent fights, and nature to tire towards the end of fights. Hatton also appeared on ITV1's daytime show Loose Women in August 2007, stating that the reason why he puts on weight between fights is because "I have a lot on my plate at the moment".

Hatton appeared on the Friday Night with Jonathan Ross show in March 2007. When the host, Ross, placed some pads on his hands and gave Hatton gloves to hit them with, he knocked a pad clean off Ross's hand with a powerful left hook. Interviewed on ITV1's Parkinson on 13 October 2007, at the beginning of the interview, Hatton handed Michael Parkinson a custom made pair of boxing shorts with 'Mike' and 'Parky' written on them, the shorts had the Barnsley emblem on them and were coloured red and blue, Barnsley Football Club's colours, because Parkinson supports Barnsley. While talking about Floyd Mayweather's arrogance, Hatton said "if there was such a thing as re-incarnation, Floyd would come back as himself".

Hatton received the award of MBE for services to sport in the 2007 New Year's Honours List.

Hatton has recently started hosting his own live chat show called Ricky Speaks, on Nuts.TV.

His father, Ray Hatton said, "We had a conversation with a third party asking whether, if we were approached by the Mayweather team, would a possible rematch be on the cards." Ray also said, "Really at the moment we're looking at Manny Pacquiao. It's very nice for Ricky to still be in such a big league."

Although negotiations stalled at some points, Hatton fought the number one pound-for-pound fighter Manny Pacquiao on 2 May 2009. Hatton hosted the 9 November edition of WWE Raw defeating Chavo Guerrero in a match.

Family

Hatton's mother, Carol, still works on the carpet stall on Glossop Market in the Peak District. His father Ray is his manager, and also manages his brother and fellow boxer Matthew Hatton. Ricky and his girlfriend Jennifer Dooley live in his house, the "Heartbreak Hotel" named after his favourite artist Elvis, in Hyde.

Hatton has a son, Campbell, conceived after a short reconciliation with ex-girlfriend, Claire. Long before he was a big-money earner, Hatton set up a trust fund to make sure his son was always provided for, and sees him every day.

Charity

Hatton is a supporter of 'The Village News', Haughton Green's local children's newspaper made by children in aid of charity. Hatton supported them at a charity auction by appearing and signing boxing gloves, with the evening raising £1,600. Ricky was also recently a special guest-speaker for The Toby Henderson Trust at a sportsmans' dinner at the Gosforth Marriott Hotel. Thanks to Ricky's help via donations and a highly successful auction, a lot of money was raised for the Centre for First Inistuitives in Crosby Liverpool.

Fans

Hatton has attracted many fans who are very vocal in their support during fights. The main chant is a modified version of the popular Christmas song "Winter Wonderland", with the lyrics changed to promote Hatton.

There's only one Ricky Hatton,

One Ricky Hatton,

Walking along,

Singing this song,

Walking in a Hatton wonderland.

Hatton fans also like to taunt the opponent by singing "Who are ya?", a popular English football chant.

Along with Floyd Mayweather, Hatton is referenced by New York rapper GZA on the track 'Paper Plates' from his 2008 album Pro Tools.

Championships

• Former The Ring magazine's World Light Welterweight Champion
• Former IBO World Light Welterweight Champion
• Former 2x IBF World Light Welterweight Champion
• Former WBA World Light Welterweight Champion
• Former WBA World Welterweight Champion
• Former WBU Light Welterweight Champion
• Former British Light Welterweight Champion
• Former WBO Inter-Continental Light Welterweight Champion
• Former WBA Inter-Continental Light Welterweight Champion
• Former British Central Area Light Welterweight Champion
• The Ring magazine's 2005 'Fighter of the Year'
• ABA National Champion Light Welterweight 1997
• ABA National Junior Champion (Class A) Light Welterweight 1995,1996
• ABA National Junior Champion (Class B) Light Welterweight 1997
• ABA National Junior Champion (Class C) Light Welterweight 1994.

Professional boxing record

45 Wins (32 knockouts, 12 decisions, 1 disqualification), 2 Loss, 0 Draws [114100]
Result	Opponent	Type	Rd., Time	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	Manny Pacquiao	KO	2 , 2:59	2 May 2009	Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	Paulie Malignaggi	TKO	11 , 0:48	22 November 2008	Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	Juan Lazcano	Decision	12	24 May 2008	Manchester, UK
Loss	Floyd Mayweather, Jr.	TKO	10 , 1:35	8 December 2007	Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	José Luis Castillo	KO	4 , 2:16	23 June 2007	Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	Juan Urango	Decision	12	20 January 2007	Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	Luis Collazo	Decision	12	13 May 2006	Boston, Massachusetts
Win	Carlos Maussa	KO	9 , 1:10	26 November 2005	Sheffield, UK
Win	Kostya Tszyu	TKO	11 , 3:00	4 June 2005	Manchester, UK
Win	Ray Oliveira	KO	10 , 1:38	11 December 2004	London, UK
Win	Michael Stewart	TKO	5 , 2:57	1 October 2004	Manchester, UK
Win	Carlos Vilchés	Decision	12	12 June 2004	Manchester, UK
Win	Dennis Pedersen	TKO	6 , 2:32	3 April 2004	Manchester, UK
Win	Ben Tackie	Decision	12	13 December 2003	Manchester, UK
Win	Aldo Nazareno Rios	TKO	10 , 0:01	27 September 2003	Manchester, UK
Win	Vince Phillips	Decision	12	5 April 2003	Manchester, UK
Win	Joe Hutchinson	KO	4 , 1:16	14 December 2002	Newcastle, UK
Win	Stephen Smith	Disqualification	2	28 September 2002	Manchester, UK
Win	Eamonn Magee	Decision	12	1 June 2002	Manchester, UK
Win	Mikhail Krivolapov	TKO	9	9 February 2002	Manchester, UK
Win	Justin Rowsell	TKO	2	15 December 2001	London, UK
Win	Freddie Pendleton	KO	2	27 October 2001	Manchester, UK
Win	John Bailey	TKO	5	15 September 2001	Manchester, UK
Win	Jason Rowland	KO	4 , 2:08	7 July 2001	Manchester, UK
Win	Tony Pep	TKO	4	26 March 2001	London, UK
Win	Jon Thaxton	Decision	12	21 October 2000	London, UK
Win	Giuseppe Lauri	TKO	5 , 1:57	23 September 2000	London, UK
Win	Gilbert Quiros	KO	2	10 June 2000	Detroit, Michigan
Win	Ambioris Figuero	KO	4	16 May 2000	Warrington, UK
Win	Pedro Alonso Teran	TKO	4	25 March 2000	Liverpool, UK
Win	Leoncio Garces	TKO	3	29 January 2000	Manchester, UK
Win	Mark Winters	KO	4 , 0:51	11 December 1999	Liverpool, UK
Win	Bernard Paul	TKO	4	9 October 1999	Manchester, UK
Win	Mark Ramsey	Decision	6	17 July 1999	Doncaster, UK
Win	Dillon Carew	TKO	5	29 May 1999	Halifax, UK
Win	Brian Coleman	KO	2	3 April 1999	London, UK
Win	Tommy Peacock	TKO	2	27 February 1999	Oldham, UK
Win	Paul Denton	KO	6	19 December 1998	Liverpool, UK
Win	Kevin Carter	KO	1	31 October 1998	Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	Pascal Montulet	KO	2	19 September 1998	Oberhausen, Germany
Win	Anthony Campbell	Decision	6	18 July 1998	Sheffield, UK
Win	Mark Ramsey	Decision	6	30 May 1998	Bristol, UK
Win	Karl Taylor	TKO	1	18 April 1998	Manchester, UK
Win	Paul Salmon	KO	1	27 March 1998	Telford, UK
Win	David Thompson	KO	1 , 1:25	17 January 1998	Bristol, UK
Win	Robbie Alvarez	Decision	4	19 December 1997	New York City, New York
Win	Colin McAuley	TKO	1	11 September 1997	Widnes, UK

See also

• List of current world boxing champions
• Ring Magazine pound for pound

References

1. http://video.aol.com/video-detail/ricky-hatton-manchester-homecoming-entrance/2569147267
2. http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=009314&cat=boxer
3. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/photo_galleries/2943122.stm
4. http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=2389221
5. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxingandmma/2307054/Hatton-may-give-up-IBF-belt-again.html
6. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/boxing/s/219/219014_hobson_is_rickys_choice.html
7. http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=2380697
8. http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=2730405
9. http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-news-wire.php?search=castillo&subt=Jose%20Luis%20Castillo
10. http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=9199
11. BBC online: Hatton seals bout with Mayweather
12. http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/5550/floyd-mayweather-kos-ricky-hatton/
13. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7135228.stm
14. http://www.eastsideboxing.com/boxing/Hatton-Mayweather.php
15. A second Mayweather beating is one to miss for Hit-Man Hatton
16. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/article3023565.ece
17. Daily Mail:- Mayweather hails 'brave' Hatton - then hints he may quit boxing
18. http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news?slug=ro-hattonwins052408&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
19. http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3411419
20. BBC SPORT | Boxing | Malignaggi test next for Hatton
21. http://www.boxingnews24.com/2008/09/hatton-to-be-trained-by-mayweather-sr/
22. http://www.sportinglife.com/boxing/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=boxing/08/11/23/BOXING_Hatton_Malignaggi.html
23. http://www.goldenboypromotions.com/media/2009/jan/01.28.09_hatton.htm
24. http://www.hbo.com/boxing/fighters/hatton_ricky/bio.html
25. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7132292.stm
26. http://boxingwriter.wordpress.com/2008/09/18/blah-blah-etcetc-hatton-talks-oscar-trainers-ageing-and-the-future/
27. http://www.munster-express.ie/sports/studsup/opposites-attract/
28. http://www.sportingo.com/sports/a6024_ricky-hatton-floyd-mayweather-its
29. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/231/231891_ricky_hatton_gets_a_gong.html
30. [1]
31. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxingandmma/3816192/Floyd-Mayweather-Jr-sounds-out-Ricky-Hatton-rematch.html
32. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/boxing/article5361525.ece
33. http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_11521289
34. http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=12100
35. Champ’s girl on life with Hatton The Sun - 5 December, 2007
36. http://78.110.162.82/news/2008_june.html
37. http://www.e-sports.com/articles/2090/1/Mayweather-Hatton---Chanting-in-a-boxing-wonderland/Page1.html
38. http://lyrics.astraweb.com/display/646/gza..pro_tools..paper_plate.html

External links

• Official site
• Ricky Hattons Official Kit Supplier
• Ricky Hatton's promoter - official site
• Ricky Hatton AUDIO Interview: Talks Floyd Mayweather
• HBO Ricky Hatton profile
• Boxing-Encyclopedia
• Ricky Hatton Official Sponsors