Ricky Hatton vs Luis Collazo official on-site programme, billed "The Hitman Invasion", (One if by land, and two if by sea), 13th May 2006, TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, Massachusetts.

Condition mint

Hatton W UD 12
A memorial ten-count was tolled in tribute to former World Champion Floyd Patterson, who had died two days earlier.

* Hatton scored a flash knockdown at 0:10 in the first round, with a left hook, and Collazo took the mandatory eight-count.

* An accidental headbutt in the third round opened a cut above Collazo's forehead.

* Hatton slipped to the floor early in the final round.

* Hatton was wobbled in the twelfth round.

* Many fans questioned the decision, and thought Collazo won the fight.

* It ranks in the top 10 for activity for welterweights. Hatton had a 53% to 47% edge of the total.

Price: £35

Ricky Hatton two-time IBF Jr. Welterweight world champion, and former WBA super lightweight and welterweight world champion, has beaten defending world champions in four of his last five fights.

In his most recent fight in June, 2007, he defended the IBO Jr. Welterweight World title with a devastating 4-round stoppage against former Lightweight World Champion Jose Luis Castillo.

On January 1, Ricky was recognized by the Queen of England in the annual New Year's honors list, and received the title MBE (Member of the British Empire). The ceremony took place at Buckingham Palace, and he will now be known as Ricky Hatton, MBE.

Ricky had a breakout year in 2005 - his accomplishments stood heads and shoulders above those of every other fighter in the world, and he was voted "Fighter of the Year' by The Boxing Writers Association of America, and The Ring.

From TheRing-online.com, December 21, 2005: The Ring is pleased to announce that it has selected Ricky Hatton as 2005's Fighter of the Year. Hatton is the first-ever British boxer to receive the award since its inception in 1928.

Hatton earned top honors by stopping long-reigning junior welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu at the end of the 11th round on June 4 in Manchester, England. In his second bout of the year on November 26, Hatton knocked out WBA Junior welterweight titleholder Carlos Maussa in the ninth round in Sheffield, England.

"Not only did Hatton take the title away from one of the greatest 140-pounders of all-time and make his first defense against a highly rated challenger, he did it in the sort of entertaining and definitive manner that attracts fans and fills venues," said The Ring's Editor-in-Chief Nigel Collins Hatton joins a long list of famous fighters to win The Ring's Fighter of the Year award, starting with then- heavyweight champion Gene Tunney, Other past recipients include Muhammad Ali ('63, '72, '74, '75, '78), Joe Louis ('36, '38, '39, '41), Rocky Marciano ('52, '54, '55), Ray Robinson ('42, '51), and Mike Tyson ('86, '88).

Ricky has been the biggest draw in Great Britain for several years, with a huge, fanatical following in his hometown of Manchester.

Regarding his nickname, Ricky said, "I've always been a fan of Tommy Hearns, and everybody associates that that's where I got it from, but everybody's a Tommy Hearns fan. I got the nickname the first day I walked in the gym. I was 10 years old and put a pair of gloves on and started walloping the bag, and my amateur coach said, 'Look at him, look how evil he is. He's a little Hitman."








Luis Collazo won the WBA welterweight title on April 2, 2005 with a 12-round split decision victory over defending champion Jose Antonio Rivera. However, in Zab Judah there was a WBA "super champion" then so that Collazo was not the highest recognized champion of that organization. On January 7, 2006, Judah, who also held the WBC and IBF welterweight titles, lost a 12-round decision to Carlos Manuel Baldomir in New York. Baldomir had chosen to pay the sanctioning fee of the WBC only; as a result, only the WBC title had been at stake; nevertheless Judah was stripped of his WBA belt. Thus, Collazo then attained recognition as the WBA's sole welterweight champion.