It’s just over 10 years since Ricky Hatton stepped into the ring at Kingsway Leisure Centre in Widnes for his first professional fight. His opponent, one Colin McAuley, didn’t survive the first round.

There have been quite of few of those over the ensuing years, opponents quitting on their stool, unable to take further punishment from a relatively small, roguish-looking gladiator who, for very apparent reasons, has become known throughout the boxing world as The Hit Man.

Forty-three times Ricky Hatton has entered the ring, and 43 times he’s had his arm raised aloft by the referee in salute to victory, on 32 occasions with his opponent still semi-conscious in his corner after being knocked off his feet by thunderous blows from the lad brought up on a tough council estate in Hyde, Greater Manchester.

‘More than 10,000 Hatton supporters are expected to make their way across the Atlantic, and half of them haven’t a cat in hell’s chance of ever getting a ticket.’


His remarkable undefeated record says a great deal for his ability, his strength, determination and durability. Every time he goes in the ring he’s faced with an opponent with only one thing on his mind; to flatten Hatton in the quickest way possible and, in so doing, inflict as much pain as he possibly can. To survive 43 of these gruelling encounters and still come up smiling, with very few outward signs of damage, says just about everything you need to know about The Hit Man,

With so many versions of so many weights it’s hard to tell exactly how many championships and titles Hatton has won. Suffice to say that his multi-million dollar world welterweight clash with WBC champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in the early hours of Sunday morning will be the climax, the fulfilment, of his fabulous career.

Casino high rollers in the gambling capital of the world have been won over by the quick-witted cheeky chappie and his inseparable Andy Pandy hats. He’s something of an attraction on The Strip.

At a promotional face-to-face with his also undefeated opponent (38 wins to date, 24 inside the distance) this week, Hatton took the decision by a mile, He was cheered on to the stage, mainly by locals, while Mayweather looked decidedly unhappy with the boos that greeted his appearance. “This is his home town and he got booed. Wait until the lads from Manchester arrive,” grinned Hatton.

Tickets for the fight were sold out within half-an-hour of going on sale, which was fairly inevitable after all the build-up hype which, according to the promoters, pits the brash, trash-talking all-American glamour boy with the down-to-earth Mancunian with a fondness for pies and pints. And Hatton is happy to play the part.

More than 10,000 Hatton supporters are expected to make their way across the Atlantic, and half of them haven’t a cat in hell’s chance of ever getting a ticket. Hatton v Mayweather is the hottest show in town. And they want a piece of the action, even if it is only in one of the many TV bars set up especially to show the fight.

Mayweather, nicknamed ”Pretty Boy" because of his lack of war wounds, claims he’s the greatest fighter of all time, but hasn’t found many willing to agree or make a song and dance about that particular self proclamation. "I can quit today and I'll be known as the best fighter that ever lived," he boasts.

Is he underestimating Hatton? Well, the Hit Man hasn’t got to where he is today by simply elbowing his way forward unintelligently. His footwork, hand-speed and split-second shot selection are a match for anything  Mayweather might have to offer.

One thing is for certain. Mayweather has never met anyone quite like Hatton and he could be in for a life-changing shock.

If he has taken the “Little Brit” too lightly there is a very real possibility that British boxing will be celebrating an historic victory. Let’s hope so.