Five of Ricky ‘the Hitman’ Hatton’s best knock-outs on his birthday
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As a fighter, Ricky ‘the Hitman’ Hatton was fast-talking and even quicker in the ring, with his ferocious shots sending 32 victims crashing to the canvas over the course of his impressive 45-career wins from 1997 to 2012.
Today, the retired Manchester-born ‘People’s Champion’ enjoys his 37th birthday, and to join in with the celebrations Coral dive into the archive and uncover five of his best and most vicious knockouts during a superb career.
Luis Castillo 2007
For the Hitman’s 43rd professional victory, the former welterweight world champion displayed his brilliant body shots, inflicting a fourth-round stoppage on Mexican Castillo in Las Vegas before an anticipated match-up against Floyd Mayweather later that year.
Carlos Maussa 2005
At his explosive best in Sheffield, Hatton made an electrifying start out of the blocks against Colombian Maussa, before eventually downing his South American opponent in the ninth round with a brutal left hand.
Young British fighters such as Luke Campbell and Anthony Joshua will undoubtedly be looking to emulate Hatton’s success in the ring during their own careers, and the latter heavyweight is odds-on 1/16 to stop Dillian Whyte in December.
Ray Oliveira 2004
Into the final rounds of his light welterweight defence against American bruiser Oliveira, Manchester’s heroic champion sent his foe crashing to the floor after a solid right hand against the ropes, with an onlooking London crowd rapturously warming to his efforts.
Michael Stewart 2004
On his home patch in Manchester, Hatton stormed to victory with a trademark body-shot inflicting instant damage on his opposition bearing from the United States, securing his 37th career win at the MEN Arena in front of his adoring fans.
Hatton’s fellow Mancunian Anthony Crolla will be aiming to recover from a shock draw in his title bout with Darleys Perez in an eagerly-awaited rematch on home soil this November, and he is odds-on 5/6 to finally lift that WBA lightweight belt.
Justin Roswell 2001
Having ferociously sent his Australian opponent down and actually through the ring ropes, Hatton continued to dominate in the second round and ultimately his power proved too much for Roswell, viciously overwhelming him before the towel was thrown in.
The referee originally missed sight of the towel being flung from Roswell’s corner, with Hatton maintaining his aggressive approach with a barrage of shots being fired at his opponent’s head, but the official then halted proceedings for another stoppage triumph.
