“It’s Damaging the Sport”: Ricky Hatton Shows Disappointment With Current State of Boxing While Slamming Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou Matchup

Only a few names in the annals of history have achieved what Ricky Hatton has in his storied boxing career. The former British boxer held multiple titles in different weight classes. It included WBA Super, IBF, The Ring Magazine, and lineal Lightweight titles. ‘The Hitman’ Hatton retired from boxing back in 2012 after a loss against Vyacheslav Senchenko. But that has not stopped the former champion from following his beloved sport of boxing. In a recent interview, Hatton shared his thoughts on the current boxing scene.

A fight that has the entire boxing community buzzing with excitement is Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou. On one corner, it’s ‘The Gypsy King’ Tyson with his WBC Heavyweight title. He has dominated the division for quite some time now, taking down the likes of Deontay Wilder. On the other, ‘The Predator’ Ngannou, former Heavyweight champion in UFC. Ngannou is known for his punching power, often compared to being hit by a Ford Escort. But why is ‘The Hitman’ not happy about the matchup? What caused his discontent with the current state of boxing?

Ricky Hatton voices his displeasure

In a recent interview with Boxing News Plus, the former British boxer gave his two cents on the current happenings of the boxing world. With a hint of disappointment in his voice and disapproval evident in his demeanor, Hatton voiced his opinion. Hatton said, “Boxing disappoints me, lately, because of the carry-ons that go and the fact that people would rather watch him [Tyson Fury] fight him [Francis Ngannou] than the number one, number two heavyweights in the world.” Elaborating on the matter, Hatton said, “Boxing needs to put its finger out of his backside and get the right fights made because it’s damaging the sport.”

But the Tyson vs. Ngannou fight wasn’t the only reason behind his disappointment. During the interview, the ex-professional boxer also expressed his disapproval of YouTube boxing and how the boxing world is setting up the fights. He said, “You know, beating up fighters that would rather, you know, because they can earn more money, fighting a YouTuber would rather do that than fight for a world title now. That is damaging for our sport.” Hatton also added, “I think boxing needs to make a major comeback.” 

Box Off: A boxing tournament backed by Hatton and Johnny Nelson

Most people can’t even imagine what it takes to make a name for themselves as an amateur boxer. Even if a fighter is talented, a single wrong decision can take them down the wrong path, or worse, they will end up with nothing. However, that might very well change soon for young and amateur boxers in the UK because of the Box off.

It’s a new and innovative style of boxing tournament. It involves the likes of Hatton and former WBO Cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson. There will be four teams – London, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester. Hatton, Nelson, Tom Skinner, and Jaykae will guide the teams during the tournament. It starts today in Manchester and will also be live-streamed on the Boxing Socials YouTube channel, per a report from TalkSport.

Also Read: “Scared the Life Out of Him”: Ricky Hatton Details the Struggles in His Son’s Boxing Journey

Hatton was hands down one of the greatest boxers in Britain and the world. Even after his retirement from the sports, he continues to contribute to its betterment. But the question is – are his opinions on the current state of boxing correct? What’s your take on the matter? Do you prefer YouTube/influencer boxing over traditional boxing?

Watch This Story: Everything We Know So Far About Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou