Class shows as Hitman whacked

WHEN the end came, his undefeated status removed, Ricky Hatton met his fate with the same wit that had carried him through 14 weeks gruelling weeks of preparation, trash talking and media exposure.

Not only beaten for the first time in his career but knocked out with a series of stunning left hooks from a brilliant Floyd Mayweather in the 10th round of their scheduled 12-round WBC welterweight title fight, Hatton’s first words over the public address system at the MGM Grand Garden Arena were: “What a fluke that were.”

Only a man who knew he was comprehensively beaten by a better boxer and, against expectation, puncher, could have said that, especially with an adoring band of followers that would have allowed him to have lost with very little dignity at all. But such has Hatton conducted himself, not just over the build-up to this showdown but throughout a 44-fight career.