Ricky Hatton shared the ring with both Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
He fought the American first in 2007 in Las Vegas. Although the much-loved Manchester man started well, it was ‘TBE” who stepped up his game and managed to stop Hatton with a slick check hook in the 10th round.
After fighting his way back into world title contention, just a year later, Hatton returned to the very same boxing ring in the MGM Grand Garden Arena but this time was stopped much sooner, with Pacquiao catching him early in the second round and forcing the referee to stop the fight.
Since then, Pacquiao has had another 19 fights, won several world titles and most recently competed back in July at 46-years-old when he drew with Mario Barrios.
Mayweather, meanwhile, retired in 2017, but not before beating ‘Pac Man’ in their super fight in 2015, though many fans believe that the fight came far too late when both fighters were out of their primes.
Speaking recently to Froch on Fighting, Hatton was asked who would win had the two multi-weight greats had met much sooner and still backed Mayweather to get the victory.
“I think Floyd Mayweather. Pacquiao did knock me out in two but I think I had too many rounds on the clock at the time. But I think Mayweather, the referee did give him a bit of help [against me] but he was something else. It was the first time I sat down in the changing rooms and thought wow, he was good him.”
Pacquiao is now in talks for his next fight after returning in a controversial draw against welterweight world champion Mario Barrios in July, while Hatton also returns for an exhibition match in December against Al Dah.
