Ricky Hatton: Mayweather-Pacquiao so bad it'll put people off boxing for life
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ByEurosport
Updated 21/05/2015 at 09:57 GMT
Ricky Hatton has claimed the sport of boxing was damaged by the much-vaunted 'Fight of the Century' between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. exchange punches with Manny Pacquiao during their welterweight unification championship bout, May 2, 2015 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mayweather defeated Pacquiao by unanimous decision. AFP PHOTO / JOHN GURZINKSI
Image credit: AFP
Mayweather completed a comfortable one-sided points win over the Filipino fighter as the welterweight bout watched by millions wordwide failed to live up to the hype.
While Mayweather extended his unbeaten record to 48, former British world champion Hatton - who was knocked out by Mayweather in 2007 and Pacquiao two years later - says that the bout did not showcase the fight game properly.
"It was damaging for the sport," Hatton said in an interview with the BBC.
"I can't imagine there is anyone out there saying they loved it. Considering they're two all-time greats, the money they walked away with, what the fans had to pay, it was all a bit of a letdown.
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Ricky Hatton of Britain (L) takes a punch from Floyd Mayweather Jr
Image credit: Eurosport
"Then when Manny blamed his defeat on a shoulder injury, it soured it even further.
"Boxing has UFC (The Ultimate Fighting Championship) breathing heavily down its neck and it was the first boxing match that had crossed over into the mainstream for a long time, so we needed it to be exceptional.
"But there were more negatives than positives.
"If you'd got up at 5am to watch it in the UK and you hadn't seen a fight in years, you might not bother watching boxing again."
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Ricky Hatton knocked out by Manny Pacquiao during junior welterweight title fight on May 2, 2009 in Las Vegas
Image credit: AFP
Hatton added: "Mayweather is not bothered about pleasing the crowd, he's bothered about doing what he does and getting paid. He doesn't have you on the edge of your seat, let's put it that way.
"As a boxer, I sit there and watch his ability and think: 'Wow, look at his movement, that's unbelievable.'
"But a non-boxing person will probably be sitting there thinking: 'I've paid all this money, what the hell am I watching?!'"
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