Boxing / Richard Douglas / 21 November 2008 / Leave a comment

Ricky Hatton undoubtedly faces one of the biggest fights of his life on Saturday night. A win against Paulie Malignaggi could set him up for a bumper brawl with Oscar de la Hoya but according to Richard Douglas, a defeat could be quickly followed by the Hitman hanging up his gloves.

Ricky Hatton has reached that stage in an elite fighter's career when defeat would almost certainly mean retirement.

The Mancunian [1.5] has already earned enough money to keep him in Guinness and 'Only Fools and Horses' DVDs for the rest of his days. Were he to lose to Pauli Malignaggi [3.25] on Saturday in Las Vegas, the 30-year-old could look back on a record that has seen him become the undisputed No 1 at his weight, impress America and defeat a modern legend, Kostya Tszyu.

His humbling against Floyd Mayweather, an all-time great, will always taint his legacy. However Hatton's track record should engender as much respect as love - and we know he has the latter in abundance from a fanatical English following.

The home-spun humour and boozer-based camaraderie has been endearing to non-fight fans while the vicious body shots and swarming style has been both effective and exciting to aficionados.

His camp was accused of over-protection while he built his career with the almost worthless WBU belt. But promotion and potential turned into proof one night in June 2004 when he forced the granite-willed Tszyu to retire on his stool at the end of the 11th round. He has never been quite so impressive since then but he has always found a way to win against a decent list of international talent. And, despite that dismantling at the hands of Mayweather, he remains unbeaten at light-welterweight.

Hatton described his bout against motor-mouth Malignaggi as "a return to the scene of the crime". However there was no robbery on December 7, 2008 at the MGM Grand. The Englishman was outfoxed at every turn before he got in the ring let alone for the 28 minutes and 35 seconds of action. Hatton was at the wrong weight with the wrong referee and allowed the latter issue to effect his performance on the night. Joe Cortez was hard on the visitor. It was even said he was unhappy at how Hatton's fans had booed the Star Spangle Banner.

But all that cannot detract from the fact that he was beaten to the punch throughout the fight. It would have taken 110 per cent of Hatton to beat a 75 per cent Mayweather. If you throw in his actual display, coupled with the outside influences that went against him, then suddenly the difference was a chasm.

He revived his winning run - if not his reputation - with a below par brawl fest with Juan Lazcano in May. Malignaggi defended his IBF crown on the undercard in equally unimpressive fashion against Lovemore Ndou.

Since then Hatton has ended his 13-year association with trainer Billy Graham and, ironically, brought in Floyd Mayweather Sr. Like any divorce, it has been emotional. This week Graham told a national newspaper he is in Las Vegas but would not be watching the fight live. He has his own ghosts to exorcise.

Hatton's long-time fitness coach and nutritionalist, Kerry Kayes, left at the same time as Graham. His loss could be crucial given the excesses the fighter enjoys while not 'in camp'.

Often Hatton starts training for a fight 40lbs over the 140lb light-welterweight limit. Ahead of the Mayweather fight, Kayes said: "It couldn't be more horrific what he eats. Anything that's bad, greasy, take-away or pies, he washes down with 12 to 15 pints of Guinness and Bailey's chasers. He couldn't do it any worse."

After the Mayweather defeat he drowned his sorrows with four days in Tenerife where tabloids reported he sank 57 pints, 17 vodka and Red Bulls, four vodkas, three whisky chasers, and a bottle of Moet champagne.

The feeling prevails that these weight fluctuations will eventually catch up with him. Hatton's ring style meant he was unlikely to last much beyond 30 but his lifestyle has only exacerbated the problem.

Fast and elusive, Malignaggi could profit from that. Hatton says he brought in Mayweather Sr to improve his defensive skills however, on this occasion, the old rushing and brawling Hit Man could be the most effective ploy. The New Yorker has only stopped five of his 25 opponents so Hatton should be able to walk through anything he can throw.

Hatton has motivation. The carrot of a mega match with the winner of Oscar de la Hoya v Manny Pacquiao could be dangled if he wins well on Saturday.

Malignaggi is slick but he is hardly the "Magic Man" his nickname suggests. Realistically though, it is all a matter of what Hatton has left.