The late Ricky Hatton enjoyed some bittersweet moments in the ring over his tenured career, likely none more so than his final victory in the squared circle.
Having shared the ring with the unbeaten Floyd Mayweather before the end of his career in boxing, Ricky Hatton had rebounded from his devastating knockout loss to the icon with a pair of victories to set up another blockbuster clash.
And employing the Grand Rapids puncher’s father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., during the tail end of his career to serve as his head coach, Hatton prevailed under the tutelage of the esteemed head coach.
In his final night of success in the ring, Hatton proved far too much for a future world champion, who almost rowed with his corner post-fight.
Ricky Hatton schooled Paulie Malignaggi in dominant finish
In what would come as the final victory in his career, the late Hatton would keep hold of his championship gold for the last time, too.
Pitted with emerging New York talent Paulie Malignaggi in another trip to Las Vegas, where Hatton had brought with him a 30,000-strong travelling crowd of UK support for his fight with Mayweather, the Stockport star would turn in a dominant performance.
Stinging and hurting the IBO and The Ring light welterweight title challenger Malignaggi over the course of the clash, in the eleventh round, Hatton recorded a stoppage win, with Buddy McGirt throwing in the towel, saving the challenger from more punishment.
Reeling away and scaling the ropes in celebration, a post-fight row almost ensued between Malignaggi and McGirt, with the puncher, who was described as “furious” with the stoppage, shoving his head coach away as officials entered the ring.
Ricky Hatton admitted to overlooking Manny Pacquiao
Off the back of his victory over Malignaggi, Hatton would score another high-profile outing in the ring, putting his light welterweight crowns on the line against the iconic Manny Pacquiao in 2009.
Once more making the trip to ‘Sin City’ for the blockbuster, Hatton was flattened with two notable knockdowns in the opening round by the razor-sharp Pacquiao.
In the second round, however, Hatton was sent to the canvas courtesy of a massive overhand from the Filipino puncher, suffering a devastating knockout loss.
A year removed from the pairing, Hatton admitted he had likely overlooked the challenge of Pacquiao, before describing the historic kingpin as a “great fighter”.