There exists an historic Mecca in the north of England that has been home to many great sporting achievements.
Most of those great victories are from the country's premier football team, Manchester United.
The great MEN Arena in Manchester has also been a proud host to the single greatest triumph in British Boxing history.
On a beautiful spring day in June of 2005, a young, 26-year-old English fighter named Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton demonstrated to the world his boxing excellence.
Hatton thoroughly demolished "the unbeatable Australian warrior," Kostya Tszyu, in 11 rounds and catapulted himself high among the ranks of the greatest junior welterweights of all time.
Hatton won the Junior Welterweight Championship of the World in dominating fashion, leaving the long-standing champion (Tszyu) totally drained of spirit and will power and unable to finish the last round of the fight.
Prior to the fight, most critics didn't give the little English underdog much of a chance against the tough Aussie brawler, who had been a steadfast assailant among boxing's pound-for-pound elite.
Regrettably, I'm also one of many who thought such a task was beyond the scope of the little Englishman's pugilistic skills.
Tszyu presented a mountainous challenge for Hatton, but he scaled the near vertical crest and stuck in the British flag at the very summit of boxing's junior welterweight division.
Hatton staked his claim to the 140-pound title right then and there, and he still to this day remains undefeated at junior welterweight.
Hatton's next boxing challenge is scheduled for May 3 of this year, and it represents another Mt. Everest in the career of the little "Hitman."
Manny Pacquiao's straight left hand has cut through the monotonous drone of boxing critics who said the sport was all but dead, and by presenting an attitude of gratitude the Filipino superstar has almost single-handedly saved boxing.
Pacquiao became the first Asian to win titles in five different weight classes, including two legitimate Ring Magazine belts for featherweight and junior lightweight titles.
Pacquiao has bigtime left-hand power shots that are arrow-straight and seem to come from odd angles. In December of last year he punished Oscar De La Hoya with this very weapon, which awarded himself another stunning victory.
The May 3 showdown is just as huge for Pacquiao as it is for Hatton. Pacquiao has never fought at this weight and Hatton practically owns the 140-pound division.
Both these fighters lack good solid defence. Hatton cuts easily and has trouble with slick movers.
On the other hand "Pacman" can be outboxed and is somewhat predictable, which could lead to him being timed and countered coming in.
I'm looking for Hatton to punish Pacquiao to the body, and beat him to the punch; but the biggest factor will be the 140-pound weight class that Hatton has made his bread and butter for 44 straight fights without a loss.
On May 3 and for the rest of his famous career, there will only be one Ricky Hatton. After all is said and done, I'm betting that "The Hitman" will remain as the undefeated 140-pound champion.
- "To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there's no music, no choreography, and the dancers hit each other."
- —Jack Handey
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