06-05-2005, 09:01 AM
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 | Drink Up Thy Cyder! | | Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: England Age: 35
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The world's press is seeing this result as a massive upset. To be fair I believe going into the fight Ricky Hatton wasn't given the respect he was due, after all his record was 38 - 0.
This is the report from CNN: Quote:
MANCHESTER, England (AP) -- Ricky Hatton won the IBF light welterweight title Saturday when defending champion Kostya Tszyu quit after the 11th round.
The unbeaten Hatton, of Britain, who also holds the lightly regarded WBU title, appeared to be ahead on points when Tszyu staggered back to his corner at the end of the 11th and then signaled he couldn't carry on.
Hatton won his 39th straight bout, fighting in front of a sellout crowd of 22,000 in his hometown. At the time the fight ended, all three judges had him ahead. American judge Dan Ackerman had it 107-102, Spain's Manuel Maritxater scored it 105-104 and Alfred Asaro had Hatton leading 106-103.
"To beat somebody like Kostya Tszyu, that's end of the rainbow stuff for me," the new champion said. "Winning a world title is something, but to beat somebody like Kostya Tszyu is absolutely fantastic. I'm not one who normally shouts his mouth off, but I did say from Day One I could do it and I've done it.
"I knew I just had to get through the first four or five rounds, be nice and smart and take as little punishment as possible and try and come on in the latter part of the fight. I think that's what I did.
"I found a way to win," Hatton said. "I did it, not necessarily with boxing ability but with the boxing brain between my ears. I'll have to watch it on the tape but I think the last five rounds I went like a Trojan."
After losing his 18th world title fight, Tszyu has to decide whether to carry on at age 35.
"I am a very proud man and I'm not saying it's the end of my career," he said. "But I'm saying that today I lost to the better fighter."
Hatton battled the champion toe-to-toe and, although Tszyu appeared to be gaining control after the seventh round. But Hatton came back strong and took control.
The 35-year-old Tszyu has 31 victories and two losses.
With the crowd cheering Hatton, the fighters were aggressive from the opening bell, each trying to dominate inside.
Hatton pinned Tszyu on the ropes in the second round, landing somebody blows and uppercuts to the head. But the champion landed a solid left hook 2 minutes into the fourth round to try and halt Hatton's charge.
Tszyu also landed a solid right hand in the middle of fifth round but Hatton kept moving forward.
Hatton appeared to have Tszyu rocking on the ropes with a combination early in the sixth, but the champion responded with more right hands.
Hatton sank to one knee after a low blow in the seventh and it wasn't counted as a knockdown. But Tszyu, swelling below his left eye, staggered Hatton with a right just before the bell.
Tszyu was warned for low blows and Hatton, almost in retaliation, landed a low left which had the champion down on one knee. Referee Dave Parris halted the action for the champion to get a breather.
Just as Tszyu showed signs of taking control, Hatton came back in the 10th and landed a right uppercut in the corner. He also connected on some combinations, and the champion looked exhausted at the end of round 11.
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