19.05.06 – By Barry McQueirns: Vulnerbility. Show a bit of it and you can bet every man and his dog will call you out. Show none, and your name will be strangely forgotten. These are the respective situations that Ricky Hatton and Antonio Margarito find themselves in. Hatton is a wildly aggressive, strong volume puncher who can’t help but be in exciting fights. But in his well documented move up to Welterweight last weekend we saw that he is only human. We saw that against naturally bigger, naturally stronger opponents who aren’t overwhelmed, Hatton is eminently beatable. Or is he? Remember, this was Hatton’s first major fight in the US and his first at the new weight.
Margarito came up the hard way. He had his first professional fight as a 15 year old in Tijuana, Mexico. He lost 3 of his first 12 fights – all on points, before going on a 22 fight winning streak that was only halted due to a controversial clash of head against Daniel Santos. Although buzzed a few times early, Margarito seemed on his way to winning this fight. Since then, he has wiped the floor with the unbeaten Kermit Cintron and knocked out in a single round the usually durable Manuel Gomez. Make no mistakes, Margarito is one tough hombre.
So onto the fight. This would be a barnburner. Both have fragile skin around the eyes, both are rough, both have massive amounts of pride, courage and stamina.
It would be a tale of two halves.
In the early going Margarito’s looping, often crude shots would be slipped or blocked allowing Hatton to work the body and throw hooks in close. Hatton would employ a smash and grab tactic, hurting Margarito to the body at times. No way can Hatton remain on the outside where Margarito can make full use of his 8inch reach advantage and get his power shots off. Hatton would use his quicker hands and a less reckless style than usual to build an early lead.
Margarito would gradually begin to adjust and time Hatton as he comes in. Slashing uppercuts and crude but powerful rights would open cuts above Hatton’s left eye.
Hatton would also begin to tire as he found that his shots were not keeping Margarito ‘honest’ for long enough periods.
By the 6th Round, Margarito would have stamped his authority and use his greater strength and punching power. Hatton’s face would be a bloody mess but he would still have his moments, coming forward with the ‘take one to give one’ mentality that has served him so well.
But Margarito is no ordinary champion. He would continue throwing wide looping right hands and left hooks that are rocking Hatton to his boots. Margarito is an expert at throwing punches in bunches from awkward angles, and would drive Hatton to the ropes. In the 11th Round I can see the referee taking a close look at a bloody and tired Hatton and calling a halt to proceedings.
This fight would be a dead cert for fight of the year. Both fighters would emerge covered in glory. Hatton is a wonderful fighter who is the world number at 140.
But Margarito has to be considered the number one at 147.