“My Head Was Falling Off”: Former Rival Opens Up About How Floyd Mayweather Loss Traumatized Him

Floyd Mayweather Jr. left a long-lasting impact on the sport and his rivals. The undefeated boxer fought against various formidable opponents from multiple generations. One such opponent was Ricky Hatton. In December of 2007, both squared off in the fighting capital of the world, Las Vegas. At the time, both combatants were undefeated. In a recent turn of events, the British boxer unveiled the aftermath of his defeat in a candid interview.

During the build-up to the fight, Hatton was the fan-favorite fighter, but Mayweather Jr. continued to troll not just him but the fans. Their lead-up to the bout and stature garnered much attention for the contest. Eventually, ‘TBE’ proved himself a superior boxer; he had faster hands, was more accurate, and was overall more skilled. The American champion finally stopped Hatton in the 10th round of their contest.

Loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr.: Ricky Hatton unveils the profound impact on his life

At the time of their bout, Mayweather Jr. had solidified himself as one of the greatest boxers of recent times. However, Hatton, in his own right, was a well-regarded figure. A defeat was a hard pill for him to swallow. Despite his friends’ and supporters’ conscious attempts to console him, the British boxer continued to be in a state of turmoil.

In an interview with Anything Goes with James English, he shared how he suffered his first career loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. As a result, he felt that he had fallen short of everyone’s expectations, “….Can you see how that little thing in my mind, you know, something wasn’t quite there? My mates would [say], ‘Don’t worry about coming down to see us. We are proud of you. We love you. Ricky, you got beat by Mayweather.”

He added, “But in my mind, my head was falling off. You know, [and] that was the start of my life. The boxing was going great, but there was just a little feather [on] my shoulder. I couldn’t get off.”

Hatton’s comments testify that inevitable bouts are larger-than-life and necessary to cement one’s legacy. His match with Floyd Mayweather Jr. was one of the most significant of his professional life. Despite the loss, Ricky Hatton had a celebrated career and continues to be regarded highly for his contributions to the sport. On the other hand, the historic battle solidified Mayweather Jr.’s greatness.

Read more: Floyd Mayweather Lauds Rival Ricky Hatton in Brutally Honest Admission

What do you make of Hatton’s revelation above? In addition, do you consider Mayweather to be one of the greats? Please share with us in the comments below.