Hatton-Magee: Bitter rivalry turns sweet for Ricky

By Murali Para

01.06 - Here it was, Hatton-Magee. It was being billed as the domestic match-up of the year in Great Britain, and not without good reason. It was slightly reminiscent of Lewis-Bruno and the Benn-Eubank clashes with its bitter, personal war of words in the build-up. Magee clearly suggested that Hatton was an over-hyped kid who fought nobodies, while the Hitman responded in kind by saying that he saw nothing in Magee's style to bother him at all. As it transpired, the fighters - both ranked in the WBC top five - would change their minds about these initial convictions.

The Manchester crowd gave the occasion a great sense of expectancy at the MEN Arena. As the bell rang for round 1, they looked to the local hero, Hatton to tee off with his trademark, punishing body shots. Boy, were they in for a surprise. Hatton approached Magee on the ropes, but was caught with sharp counterpunches, one of which unceremoniously dumped Hatton on to the canvas for the first time in his career. To his credit, Hatton was up quickly, but Magee's hand speed and power troubled the favourite for the first two rounds, and the Hitman was jolted again in round 2 with an awesome Magee combination.

However, the tide did finally turn from round 3 onwards. The Hitman started to box clever, as Magee spent an inordinate amount of time on a tiny stretch of the ropes just outside his corner. Hatton developed a strategy of moving in carefully, unleashing a few head and body shots, then retreating to a safe distance once again. That way he avoided his rival's quick, hard southpaw shots that were now finding their mark much less frequently. Also, the home favourite used more head movement on the way in, something that his defence badly needed at this point.

After winning probably only one of the first 4 rounds, Hatton from round 5 onwards took control of the fight with intelligence and assurance. Magee insisted on remaining in the 'phone booth' that he constructed by his corner for huge periods of time, while the champion forged on, finally beginning to outclass the older man. He was putting up a feisty and strategic fight to keep the clever, hard man, Eamonn Magee at bay. The Hitman's work-rate and stamina were exceptional and made a big difference in the fighters' differing standard of boxing throughout the middle rounds.

Ricky Hatton's plan at this stage was definitely to box his way to a clear points decision over his rival. And it was a plan that was to prove successful, even though Magee took probably 2 out of the final 3 rounds with a late surge. Hatton looked to be on cruise control here, making sure there would be no high drama late in the fight as there was early on. The fight was an exciting and engrossing one, with both fighters turning in thinking performances. The margins on the judges' scorecards (116-111, 116-111, 115-112) were, I felt, an injustice to Magee. Hatton rightly went 29 and 0, but the margin was more like 2 points in my opinion. And Hatton, a young talent, still has more thinking to do: about his defence and about how to fight southpaws. Photos: TOM CASINO/SHOWTIME

Any comments or questions are most welcome: muralipara@yahoo.co.uk

01.06 - Manchester, England - World Boxing Union (WBU) Light Welterweight Champion and World Boxing Organization (WBO) No. 1 contender Ricky "Hitman" Hatton earned a unanimous decision in the seventh defense of his crown over Commonwealth Light Welterweight Champion and World Boxing Council (WBC) No. 4 contender Eamonn Magee. In the 12-round co-feature, Masters Super Middleweight Champion Ruben Groenewald stunned a partisan crowd of over 18,000 by winning the vacant WBU middleweight title with a unanimous decision over hometown hero and WBO Intercontinental Junior Middleweight Champion Anthony Farnell. The June 1 SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING doubleheader from MEN Arena in Manchester, England was promoted by Frank Warren's Sports Network

Hatton (29-0,23 KOs), of Manchester, England suffered the first knockdown of his career in the first round after being hit by a counter right hook from Magee (23-3, 18 KOs), of Belfast, Ireland. Unfazed by the knockdown, Hatton rose from the canvas to press the attack against Magee landing punishing body shots on the Irishman. Magee was content to lean against the ropes, invite the Hatton attack and counter-punch. In the early rounds, the Irishman was successful at landing the more powerful shots, but Hatton continued to score with increasing frequency and consistency. In the end, the judges unanimously favored Hatton by scores of 115-112, and 116-111 twice.

Groenewald (18-2-3, 6 KOs), of Brakpan, South Africa won the vacant WBU middleweight title in a bloody, foul-filled affair over Farnell (29-2, 20 KOs), of Manchester, England. The gritty South African survived cuts over both eyes, several low blows and two knockdowns to win a unanimous decision by scores of 114-110, and 113-111 twice. Farnell seemed to be winning comfortably by the middle rounds and managed to shut Groenewald's right eye in the seventh. The Manchester native went on to score an eighth round knockdown from a low blow that was missed by referee Dave Paris. Groenewald retaliated with a low blow of his own and Farnell would later be penalized two points for low blows in the ninth and eleventh rounds. In an impressive display of courage, Groenewald got up from the canvas in Round 12 after being knocked down by a spectacular Farnell combination to finish the fight.

Hatton vs Magee - Another Battle of Britain

By Jeff Day

Now and again a fight captures the British fight public's attention. In the recent past we have had the likes of Benn-Eubank, Lewis-Bruno and so many others. Normally, they take the form of a grudge match, and this Saturday night's contest between Manchester's unbeaten Ricky Hatton (Photo: Tom Casino/Showtime) and Ireland's enigmatic Eamonn Magee, for Hatton's WBU bauble, is no exception. Of course, the title itself is of a spurious nature at best; the real prize for the winner could be a shot at world champion Kostya Tszyu.

Hatton is the betting favourite. The champion, renowned for a punishing body attack and tremendous non-stop aggression, has won all 28 fights, 23-inside schedule. At 23 years old, Hatton is the younger man by seven years and is the man with the growing reputation on both sides of the Atlantic. The "Hitman", as Ricky is known, will be making his sixth defence of his title and Magee comes into the fight as the Commonwealth champion, so we
have two men bang in form.

The WBU holder will be fighting before his home Manchester crowd, as he has done for four of his last five contests. Unfortunately, a tendency to suffer cuts around the eyes, together with less than demanding opposition, has left a lot of people in the game with a few doubts as to whether Ricky can crack it in the elite league.

He won the British title in October 2000 against Jon Thaxton. It was a gruelling twelve round battle that saw Hatton suffer terrible eye damage before taking the 12 round decision.

In March 2001, Ricky won the vacant WBU belt by beating former Commonwealth super-featherweight champion, Tony Pep in four rounds. Another four round win followed over fellow Briton and former British Champion, Jason Rowland four months later.

The next defence against America's John Bailey saw the challenger extend Ricky to the fifth round in September 2001. Just over a month later came Freddie Pendleton, a name opponent, but a man of 38 years old, who was IBF lightweight champion eight years previously. He had been flattened inside a round by recent world title challenger, Ben Tackie in August 2000. He was broken up inside two rounds in October 2001 by Ricky.

Hatton saw 2001 out with a brilliant two round win over Justin Rowsell of Australia. His last defence, in February, was a ninth round win against Russian Mikhail Krivolapov.

It is difficult to knock an unbeaten record, but Hatton, I believe, faces the stiffest test of his promising career. In Magee he faces a hungry and confident challenger and nobody can argue about the quality of this Hatton opponent.

The Irishman was a World junior championship silver medallist at welterweight in the unpaid ranks back in 1989. He is, therefore well schooled and a southpaw to boot.

He has a professional record of 23 wins (15 inside the distance), with two losses, since turning pro in November 1995. The challenger, from Belfast won his first seven fights, then took on fringe contender Teddy Reid in just his eighth fight in Boston in March 1997 and lost a split six round
decision. No shame there as Reid has proved himself to be a most capable performer.

In November 1998, Magee met Englishman Paul Burke for the vacant Commonwealth title. Although Eamonn was the favourite, Burke was having his 40th fight and his experience proved too much on the night and Magee lost his unbeaten record on a twelve round points decision.

He showed character to come back with two wins and then met Burke again in September 1999. This time Magee was an altogether different proposition.
He claimed Burke's Commonwealth title in six rounds and has won nine fights in a row since.

He has, however, looked fortunate on occasions. In September 2000 he seemed lucky to receive the eight round decision over unsung Russian, Pavel Melnikov. Then, he defended the Commonwealth crown against Shea Neary in Belfast in November 2000 and it was the common view of ringsiders that Neary deserved the decision.

Eamonn has since beaten British Title contender Alan Bosworth in five rounds and then made two defences of the Commonwealth title against South Africans.
In May 2001, he beat Harrison Methula of South Africa in seven rounds and followed that up with a twelve round victory over Matthews Zulu.

His last fight is the one that must give Eamonn and his supporters the most hope for Saturday's meeting; a sixth round win over common opponent Jon Thaxton. Whereas Magee took Thaxton apart, Hatton had to travel the full twelve rounds. Although he won clearly on points, as I mentioned earlier, he suffered severe cuts around the eyes.

So what does Magee bring to the dance? Well, he's a rugged southpaw puncher, possessing a good chin and good ring smarts. Like Hatton, we don't really know how he will perform at top level. The biggest criticism aimed at the Irishman is that he tends to lose concentration and drift through
periods of the fight. It's unlikely he will be able to do that against the "Hitman".

This could, and should be a classic. They both, as you might expect have been talking a good fight and have had enough time to prepare.

The safe bet is that Hatton will be too persistent, too hungry and punish his challenger throughout the twelve rounds, particularly with the body attack, and run out a clear point's winner.

Or, Magee could indeed be as good as his word and fire too many accurate punches for Hatton's fragile eyebrows to hold up. Having watched the two men throughout the week on television, watching their persona, I have a real gut feeling that Magee is actually going to pull this off.

In a shock, I take Magee to win in the eighth. His slashing punches leaving referee Mickey Vann no alternative but to stop Hatton on cuts. Photos: TOM CASINO/SHOWTIME

Ricky Hatton - Eamonn Magee: Press Conference Quotes

29.05 - World Boxing Union (WBU) Junior Welterweight Champion and current World Boxing Organization (WBO) No. 1 contender Ricky "Hitman" Hatton will make his sixth title defense when he takes on British Commonwealth 140-pound champion and current World Boxing Council (WBC) No. 4 contender Eamonn Magee in a 12-round bout Saturday, June 1, on Showtime.

In the 12-round co-feature from MEN Arena in Manchester, England, once-beaten WBO Intercontinental Junior Middleweight Champion and current WBO No. 5 middleweight contender Anthony Farnell meets Masters 168-pound titleholder Ruben Groenewald for the vacant WBU middleweight title.

Showtime will televise the fight card, promoted by Frank Warren's Sports Network, via same-day tape delay at 11 PM ET/PT.

Ricky Hatton (28-0, 23 KOs)

"I may not have fought the best in the world at 140 pounds but the way I win, blasting through opponents, shows that I can jump up several levels. I do not think there is anyone in the world that punches to the body like I do. Magee is an underachiever. He fights just hard enough to win.

"Magee thinks I am going to swarm in carelessly. He likes to fight at his own pace and he does not like pressure. On Saturday night the pressure will be there, but it will not be careless, it will be calculated.

"I am not the most menacing-looking guy and I think that gives Magee confidence but when the bell goes, his confidence will tumble quickly.

"Magee says he is going to knock me out but then he is complaining about the judges and the referee. As for me, you could have the Spice Girls judging. It is not going to matter because this fight is going to end in a knockout."

Eamonn Magee (23-2, 18 KOs)

"I have watched Hatton move up through the sport and he has been pampered the whole way. He has been well looked after but his time is up.

"Ricky's strengths are his pressure and his body punching but his opponents are tailor-made for him. They are intimidated and lose the fight before they get in the ring. That will not happen to me.

"Fighting in Hatton's hometown (Manchester) spurs me on. Irish fighters are world travelers because there is not much boxing back home. I want to beat him in his hometown so everyone can see him lose. If he wants, the rematch can be in Belfast.

"If I win all 12 rounds, I still do not expect to get the decision in Manchester. I have got to take him out. Once I get a clean shot on the chin, he is going over."