In an otherwise average year for British sport, boxing came up smelling of roses. Over the decades boxing has come in for the severest of batterings – without a sign of a corner man .

But for two men this has been the best of all years. Ricky Hatton, possibly the greatest fighter ever to come out of Manchester, missed out on the WBC world welterweight title to Floyd Mayweather Jr. and last night Joe Calzaghe won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

In the early hours of Sunday morning, Ricky 'The Hat‘ or 'The Hitman' Hatton graciously toppled over in the gambling capital of the world. By all accounts the cocky Hatton gave blood, sweat and gumshield. Las Vegas had never seen such gung-ho British spirit.

‘Calzaghe may look a brutish bully but his acceptance of the Sports Personality award told a different story. He is well informed, funny and grateful for small mercies.’


This was another cavalier Hatton performance and, by the end, his coachload of fans and celebrities were on their feet. There was the unmistakable Wayne Rooney, adored by the Old Trafford faithful, while David Beckham – also a United icon – flew in from loud Los Angeles.

But for all Hatton’s boldness and bluster this was not a night for wild rejoicing. Instead this matey Mancunian quietly downed a solemn lager or two. The infectiously laddish Hatton made all the right noises but failed to deliver the killer blow.

Meanwhile, Welsh whirlwind Joe Calzaghe enjoyed the warm adulation of a BBC audience. Calzaghe may look a brutish bully but his acceptance of the Sports Personality award told a different story. He is well informed, funny and grateful for small mercies.

Boxing continues to be a highly sensitive topic of discussion. For those who want it to be banned and driven underground the examples of Hatton and Calzaghe may change a few minds.

Both Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno were the last British household names. But dear old Frank ended up in Christmas panto and Lennox Lewis has fallen off the boxing radar.

Sadly, British boxing is in desperate need of eye-catching crowd pleasers. Hatton and Calzaghe could be the men to set the wagons rolling.

When the lights went out in Las Vegas in the casinos and the one-armed bandits had dished out the dollars, Hatton left the building bruised but bullish. For British boxing this may be the beginning of a new day.