Ahead of what might just be Ricky Hatton’s last dance, the Manchester man is talking fantasy fights.
‘The Hitman’ captured the British public in a way not many fighters ever do. His army of fans travelled with him to Vegas, watched him win world titles in two weight classes, and collect a Fighter of the Year Award in 2005.
It’s a storied career in which he accomplished plenty, but every fighter has a dream matchup that they couldn’t make, whether that be down to weight or era. So, who would Hatton like to face, past or present, if he had the chance? He told Boxing Social.
“I’d probably say Roberto Duran – my hero. He’d have probably f***ing killed me, but the point I’m making is, cause he is my hero, who better to get in the ring with and find out first hand just how good he actually was? That would be a dream come true.”
‘Mano de Piedra’ – or ‘Hands of Stone’ – was a four-weight world champion who is considered by most as one of the greatest to ever do it. With a career spanning over five decades, Duran eventually hung up the gloves with a record of an incredible 119 fights, 103 wins, and 70 knockouts. Hands of stone indeed.
In a nice twist, Hatton considers his November 12 show in Manchester as a dream come true, too. He steps through the ropes to face off against Marco Antonio Barrera. The Mexican had 67 wins from 75 fights and, much like Great Britain does Hatton, his home fans regard him as a legend.
“That’s sort of like a dream that’s going to happen November 12th. Marco’s been a friend of mine forever and a day. I’ve walked him into the ring, he’s carried my belt in the ring. I think we all know as fight fans how good a fighter he was, but I mean I never thought I’d get the chance to share the ring and find out first hand.”
Hatton versus Barrera will be available on Sky Sports, and will follow on from the broadcast of Natasha Jones vs Marie-Eve Dicaire in a super-middleweight title fight.