Meaning prime Mancini moves up to 140, obviously. Let's be clear - prime Mancini was a better fighter than Hatton. Question is, is Ricky's size edge enough to sway it in his favor? I'd be interested to see if Hatton could force Boom Boom back. Mancini was extremely physically strong. Probably stronger than Hatton outright, not just P4P. And we KNOW Mancini had a better chin. I have a hard time seeing Hatton going longer than 7-8 against Arguello before being rendered unconscious. Mancini also had MUCH better stamina, as he was capable of fighting at a high pace without the need of grappling to catch breathers. Yup, overall I think Mancini has enough edges in skill/toughness that he could overcome Hatton's size. Mancini TKO 11.
Dont really agree. Mancini was pretty good, but he was considered a bit of a hype job at the time. Hatton, even if i hate him with a passion, was elite, as proven by his win over tszyu and the decent fight he gave to floyd. At the end of the day, id pick him to win a ud.
I won't pretend like I'm old enough to remember the early 80s, as I was only a toddler, but even if Mancini was considered a hype job he clearly WASN'T. I don't think Hatton did anything prime Mancini couldn't. For one, Tszyu in 05 was ready to be taken and at his level of decline probably couldn't handle Mancini's aggression. TWO, Mancini vs Floyd at 135 isn't exactly a one sided wipe out. Floyd WINS without a doubt, but Mancini could give him a tough fight for awhile. Floyd's class would tell over the course of the fight. Difference is, I don't think he takes Mancini out brutally like he did Hatton. He either wins a UD, or he does score a TKO it's more of the Ray just is eating too many shots type stoppage.
Hatton was a bloody good 140lber and has gotten underrated over time. Agree that Manchini is better, P4P, but not sure he beats prime Ricky at 140. MTF
Mancini is getting definitivelt overrated in here. He was a good enough fighter, but he was not elite. His style was based on using his strenght, and i seriously doubt he would be able to outmuscle Hatton.
How was Hatton anymore elite than Mancini? Because he beat a washed up Tszyu? Washed up Castillo? At least Mancini has a dominant win over an actual prime, quality fighter, when he beat up JL Ramirez. The MAIN reason I pick Mancini is because he had much better stamina, a point that can't even be debated. Hatton's best chance in this fight is to stop Mancini within 6, and that ain't happening.
I have a lot of problem with calling the Tszyu that Hatton beat washed up. He was coming probably his best performance in his career (or second best at worst), and he wasn't that old. In fact, I always maintained that Hatton was a better fighter, and I was one of the only one to picked him over Tszyu at the time.
Hatton better fighter than WHO?? Prime Tszyu??? Circa 98-00 Tszyu shits on Hatton. The Tszyu of 05 had lost a WORLD of quickness, and sharpness compared to the Tszyu that beat Mago, and it was STILL a close fight til Hatton pulled away late. I'm not trying to knock Hatton though. He was a good fighter. Prime Hatton would do well at current 140, and beats Postol/Broner/Mathysse/Provo. Not sure about Crawford though. If TC's as good as I think he is, I think he'd have done a number on Hatton.
Like I said, Hatton has gotten very underrated round here of late, and Crawford is fairly overrated- this is a bloke who looked no better than decent in beating Ricky Burns. Hatton cleans up 140 as it is today. Nobody at 140 now gives Ricky anything he can't handle IMO. MTF
Crawford is without question looking sharper at 140 than he was killing himself at 135. And by the same token, I can say to you that Hatton looked like SHIT against a slow bum in Juan Urango, and looked pretty shitty against Carlos Maussa until stretching him. It's not at all crazy to say that Crawford could outbox Hatton. ESPECIALLY if he went southpaw. Hatton was totally incapable of avoiding shots against southpaws. And no, I'm not just talking about Pac. I'm talking about Collazo (who he lost to) and fuckin Eamon Magee who dropped and hurt him. But Crawford has nothing he can't handle, right?
Mancini beats Hatton via UD. And Crawford for my money, outboxes Hatton and hurts him down the stretch. Would be a good fight, though.
