Hatton heartbreak
|
Ricky Hatton suffered the first defeat of his career after Floyd Mayweather Jr delivered a knock-out blow in the 10th round of their welterweight clash in Las Vegas to retain his WBC title.
Mayweather showed why he is regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet by delivering a devastating display of boxing.
Hatton was the more aggressive but failed to land many effective punches and was harshly deducted a point in the fifth round after being accused of hitting Mayweather in the back of the head.
"Pretty Boy" stepped up a gear and floored Hatton with a clinical left in the 10th round before "The Hitman" stumbled over again, seconds after getting back to his feet.
Mayweather was set to go in for the kill before referee Joe Cortez stopped the fight to hand Hatton his first ever professional defeat.
Post all your post-fight comments by clicking here. Scroll down to see how the action unfolded.
Round 10
MAYWEATHER WINS! Hatton is down and out as Mayweather proves to the world that's he still the pound-for-pound king! "Pretty Boy" floors Hatton with a huge left hook as "The Hitman" crashes into the turnbuckle before hitting the canvas. He gets back up but he's woozy and Mayweather connects again as Hatton loses his balance before the referee steps in to stop the fight!
Round nine
Hatton looks to battle back but I think he's about three points down. He needs to produce something special. "The Hitman" is gunning for Mayweather but the American is connecting with some neat punches. Hatton is the more aggressive but Mayweather is producing a classy performance. "Pretty Boy" is beginning to pull away.
Round eight
Mayweather catches Hatton with two good uppercuts. The American is stepping up a gear and catches "The Hitman" with a massive blow to the head! Hatton stays on his feet and attempts to push his opponent towards the ropes. The Brit is struggling to find the target with Mayweather very accurate when he swings. Mayweather ends the round strongly and pins Hatton back. "The Hitman almost goes down - I don't know how he's on his feet! Hatton survives - just but he's in trouble.
Round seven
The crowd are right behind Hatton who keeps up the pressure. Each of these rounds could be scored to either man. It's been a quiet seventh with Mayweather throwing fewer punches, but more effective blows. "Pretty Boy" finishes strongly and may have edged that one too. Hard to call though.
Round six
Hatton has been deducted a point for punching the back of Mayweather's head as the American almost flies through the ropes! Hatton looks angry and is still pressing Mayweather. It's a quick pace that the "The Hitman" has set but can he keep it up? I'd say Mayweather is just ahead after that deducted point. It feels like Hatton is fighting the referee as well as Mayweather.
Round five
Mayweather is coping with Hatton's strength well. It's a fairly ugly round. Hatton's isn't targeting the body as much as he usually does as he misses with a sweeping left hook. Hatton is throwing a lot of punches but not connecting with enough. Mayweather is weathering with the storm well.
Round four
Hatton immediately presses Mayweather into the corner with blood trickling from his eye. It's stop-start action as Mayweather strikes Hatton with a solid left. "Pretty Boy" then connects with a good combo which forces Hatton to take a step back. That's a bad round for "The Hitman".
Round three
Cortez is ruining this fight as he breaks the two up once more. Just let them fight! Hatton is stepping up the pressure as he pushes Mayweather against the ropes. "The Hitman" is taking a physical approach but Mayweather is leaning down into Hatton who then gets caught with a strong jab and "The Hitman" is cut above his right eye!
Round Two
Hatton catches Mayweather with another jab. Encouraging signs for the Mancunian. "The Hitman" is right in his face and Mayweather doesn't like it befoe the referee has a word with both fighters. Cortez is breaking the pair off a little too much for my liking with Hatton being denied to box on the inside as he calls another time-out. That's one each for me.
Round One
The bell sounds! Straight away Hatton looks to put pressure on Mayweather. "The Hitman" lands a solid jab - there's a lot of holding early on. Now "Pretty Boy" catches Hatton with a great left hook before Hatton Mayweather almost loses his balance when Hatton connects with another jab! Mayweather just stays on his feet as Hatton looks to work the body. Mayweather catches Hatton with another left at the end of the round.
Pre-fight
0448: It sounds like the MEN Arena as Mayweather is greeted to a chorus of boos. Forget home advantage - "The Hitman" looks nervous as the crowd chant "There's only one Ricky Hatton". The fighters are being introduced. First, in the blue corner, Ricky Hatton. In the red corner, Floyd Mayweather. Both look in great shape. Both are undefeated but who will walk out with their record intact? Lets get ready to rumble!!!!!
0440: Celebrities are grouped in the crowd and there is Ricky's mate David Beckham. Hatton makes his way to the ring to a standing ovation. He has the support - can he deliver the goods?
0435: Here we go! First we have the national anthems and it's Tom Jones! The crowd are on their feet as the Welshman belts out God Saves our Queen before the American anthem.
0424: Lacy wins by unanimous decision in what was an awful fight. Next up - Hatton v Mayweather!!
0418: Better from Manfredo who is coming into this contest as it draws to a close. It's little too late though because we're now approaching the tenth and final round. Lacy has a cut just above his eye.
0414: No big punches are being landed with Lacy ahead but looking unimpressive. This has been a really poor spectacle as we head into round nine.
0410: Manfredo is now matching Lacy punch-for-punch and has produced probably his best round in this contest. "The Pride have Providence" may have just edged that one but is still behind in this bout.
0407: Manfredo is still holding his own with Lacy looking lacklustre but "Left Hook" is still doing just enough to see off his opponent.
0402: Another bland round but credit Manfredo for showing guts to come back after being knocked down. Lacy easily ahead on points after five rounds.
0358: Manfredo is knocked down within the first 20 seconds of the fourth round after being caught by a big right hand. He's back up on his feet though and does well to weather the storm. That's a chance gone astray for Lacy.
0354: There's little fluency in this fight which in all honesty has been very boring so far. Another close round which Lacy may have just edged. Joe Cortez is now in Hatton's dressing room, reading over the rules.
0351: Lacy's timing looks off in his first fight for over year after recently returning from a shoulder injury. However, Manfredo is boxing far too negatively and may have just lost out on both rounds so far.
0348: A very patient start from both fighters with neither man gaining early control in a quiet first round. Backstage, referee Jo Cortez is reading the rules to "Pretty Boy".
0345: Hatton's just been interviewed backstage and looks the most nervous I've ever seen him. "The Hitman" admits that himself but is still confident that he will make Britain proud. Back in the ring, it's the final fight before the main-event. Two Calzaghe victims - Peter Manfredo Jr and Jeff Lacy are just about to go at it.