07 Boxing / Betfair Education / 18 March 2008 / Leave a comment

December 2007 saw Las Vegas play host to one of the most anticipated fights in years. Manchester's finest Ricky Hatton was set to collide with the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world - Floyd Mayweather. Both men were undefeated, both exciting, and the trash talking synonymous with the sport was rife. So what was all the hype about? Resident Betfair boxing expert Mandeep Dhanoa took a closer look at the two competitors in the lead up to the fight.

Ricky Hatton

Ricky Hatton is famous for being a no-holds-barred pressure fighter. What this means is that rather than looking for any single blow to take out his opponent, he throws a large number of punches from beginning to end. This usually results in a cumulative effect, the opponent is worn down and feels suffocated to the point of virtual resignation to defeat. A prime example of this was the epic contest between Hatton and Kostya Tszyu. The battle was so ferocious, the seemingly unbeatable Tszyu (the then champion) quit in his corner following the 11th round. Despite both men taking a terrible beating, it was Tszyu who eventually cracked and was unable to continue.

Hatton is famous for his devastating left hook to the body. This power punch is delivered often, and it can have numerous different effects. It can result in his opponent having to lower his guard to try and protect the targeted area of his body. If the opponent does adjust his right hand to protect the area around his lower ribcage, the right hand side of the head becomes increasingly exposed. Therefore Hatton often delivers his signature blow as part of a two-punch combination - left hook to the body, followed by left hook to the head. The best example of his potential effect this can have was during the recent Hatton v Castillo fight, where Hatton broke some of Castillo's ribs, thereby bringing an end to the fight.

Attack is only part of a boxer's repertoire. Defence can be just as crucial a factor in success. Ricky has capable boxing skills, but is better known for his fighting qualities, as he simply keeps on throwing punches. However he also capable of taking punches too. His defence is not great, and he often exposes his chin. This does not seem to stop him coming forward though, and always makes for an exhilarating fight.

Floyd Mayweather

The man is as good as we have seen in any weight class in years. His punch accuracy is frightening, he speed is mind blowing, and his all round boxing skills are top class. Mayweather can fight in many different ways, but his game plan remains the same: hit and avoid being hit. He will often allow is opponent to come at him, and try to hit on the counter. Due to his speed and accuracy, he is usually able to hit and then avoid any counter blows thanks to great footwork and movement.

Floyd likes to deliver jabs to score points, and series of combinations to cause devastation. The change from defence to attack is done in the blink of an eye. When he has an opponent under pressure, he will often go in for the kill, and not allow his opponent time to recover.

His defence is fantastic. Rarely does he allow himself to be hit by many clean blows. This is reflected partly in his nickname. 'Pretty Boy' partially refers to his face's lack of wear and tear from his years of boxing. His guard helps greatly; he takes many blows on the arms or gloves. He is so quick on his feet, and has such lightning reactions, he can see many punches coming, and is able to simply move out of the way.

The Match Up

This fight will very much be a contrast of styles. Hatton will be on the front foot, relentlessly coming forward at Mayweather. Hatton will throw a large number of punches, of which many will miss, but many will also hit. Mayweather will attempt to hit Hatton on the way in, and move to the side so as not to let Hatton settle.

I expect Hatton will come under numerous periods of pressure where he may have to hold in order to recover. Mayweather is too good at his job not to cause Hatton trouble. The big question is whether Hatton will be able to deliver enough punishment to cause Mayweather trouble? Mayweather does not like being hit, and is not accustomed to it either. Should the 'Pretty Boy' find himself in trouble, how he reacts to it is the key to Hatton's success. Hatton will also attempt to wrestle Mayweather and tie him up. This will make it difficult for Mayweather to free his arms and land quick short punches, and help to wear him out. Whether this strategy is successful could have much to do with the referee.

Although Mayweather is the big favourite to win the fight, he will certainly not have fought anyone who will put him under the amount of pressure that Hatton will. Ricky also has the heart of a lion, and will want it more. No regular boxing follower can argue that Hatton does not raise his game to new levels for the biggest fights. Few believed he could beat Tszyu or destroy Castillo.

Having said that, Mayweather is not rated as the best fighter in the world without good reason. This fight is also at Welterweight - one weight up from Hatton's ideal weight class. The last and only time Hatton has fought at this weight, he had an uninspired win against Luis Collazo (who is solid, but not special).

The media hype has begun; the insults have been flying at the press conferences, and this is perfectly set up to be the fight of the decade!

Tips

Look at the body language of the fighters in the build up, and on the night. Are you able to read anything from their body language? Will the army of Hatton fans create a similar atmosphere to Manchester? All are useful factors to look out for.

During the fight, always watch for point-scoring punches. This fight has a great chance of being resolved by the judge's scorecards. Score each round, and judge for yourself in-play. Listen to the opinions of the experts in the media, and compare their scorecards against yours.

Listening to the corner between rounds can also give you great pieces of information. Trainers know as much as anyone about their fighters, and their judgement during the fight is likely to be accurate. Should either boxer say anything to their corners, that information is also crucial in assessing how the fight is developing.

Of particularly note in any boxing match is whether any fighters get cut. Hatton has had real trouble with cutting too easily in the past, although this has markedly improved in recent times. But if Ricky does get a bad cut - it is likely to signal an imminent victory for Mayweather, so watch closely.

It is difficult if you are a fan of either boxer not to get emotionally involved. Do not let that emotion cloud your judgement. However, momentum is a huge factor in any sport, and if either fighter appears to be getting on top, it could be worth backing early in that momentum shift. This should also help in laying off should the momentum continue and the price get shorter.