Hatton, Ricky (1978– )

English boxer. Known for his attacking body punches in the ring, and for his charismatic personality out of it, Hatton turned professional in 1997 and went undefeated in his first 43 fights, achieving knockouts in 30 of them. In June 2005 he won the International Boxing Federation (IBF) light-welterweight title – his first major world title – when he beat the Australian Kostya Tszyu on a technical knockout. Later that year, he beat Carlos Maussa to win the World Boxing Association (WBA) light-welterweight title. In December 2007, he lost for the first time in his career when he was stopped in the tenth round by unbeaten US fighter Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Hatton made his professional debut in 1997 when he knocked out Colin McAuley in the first round. In 1999 he won the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Inter-Continental light-welterweight title with a fifth round knockout of Dillon Carew. In 2001, he beat Tony Pep with a fourth round knockout to win the vacant World Boxing Union (WBU) light-welterweight title. He made 15 successful defences of that title before his 2005 win over Tszyu. In 2006 he gave up his IBF title after declining to fulfil a mandatory title defence, preferring instead to move up to compete in the welterweight division.

Career highlights Professional record (1997– ) fights: 45; wins: 44 (31 inside the distance); draws: 0; defeats: 1

IBF light-welterweight champion 2005–06, 2007

WBA light-welterweight champion 2005–06

WBA welterweight champion 2006