Ricky Hatton vs Jonathan Thaxton official on-site programme plus stubless ticket also signed (inside) by Junior Witter and Audley Harrison, 21st October 2000, Conference Centre, Wembley, London.

Condition mint

Hatton W Pts 12

Hatton had barely been tested in 21 previous bouts, winning all but four by stoppage. Hatton, just turned 22, dominated a gruesome slugfest for the British light welterweight crown. The tough as nails Thaxton opened a cut on Hatton's left eyebrow about 15 seconds into the first round. It gushed as Thaxton honed in, and Hatton's ace cut man Mick Williamson had to put all his tools to work. Thaxton banged a looping right on Hatton's forehead in Round 2 and looked strong. But Hatton began scoring with short rights and combinations. He cut Thaxton in the third. By Round 5, Hatton was pot-shoting Thaxton, whose face became a bloody mask. In the seventh Hatton clobbered Thaxton with rights, and the older opponent seemed ready to go, but Hatton couldn't finish him. When Hatton's own cut opened again a round later, impairing his vision, referee Paul Thomas legitimately could have stopped either fighter on cuts. Even a massive Hattton right to close the 11th couldn't stop the relentless Thaxton. Hatton took a decision, and soon after he had plastic surgery that -- for a while at least -- made him less vulnerable to cuts.

Price: £ SOLD

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."