Boxing fans received a lot of nostalgia this evening when Ricky Hatton and Marco Antonio Barrera walked across the rope for an exhibition in Manchester.
Hatton and Barrera hung up their gloves 10 and 11 years ago, respectively. In the four corners of the ring in Manchester, there are a total of 123 matches, 76 knockouts, 12 world titles in 5 weight classes and millions of fans around the world.
After the Mariachi Band Walk for The Mexican and an old school rendition of Blue Moon Rising for The BritThe referee gathered the men in the center of the ring to exhibit their ‘skill and sportsmanship’.
! 🌙 🔵@HitmanHattonLast special walk ✨ pic.twitter.com/1FPtwpZ4BF
– Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) November 12, 2022
Hatton looks sharper of the two, and you get the feeling that it means a bit more to Manchester’s favorite son. Although his speed is not as fast as 15 years ago, it is still possible to see the darkness. In fact, Hatton has shown a glimpse of everything he’s famous for in the ring.
As for Barrera, he had a chance to show some quick and dexterous reactions, as well as show off a nice jab. During the second half of the fight, he probably turned up the heat to match his old friend’s level of effort, and as a result it wobbled a bit when it came to territory.
While the footage is rolled out with some intention towards the end, there’s really never a risk of either of them getting into trouble.
In the final few seconds, the fight threatened to burn out, giving fans a taste of what it would be like if either of them came here to win at all costs. That, given the mileage on the meter, is just the right amount.
When the final bell rang for what could be the last time for both men, they hugged, changed flags, and each raised a hand.
Respect in the final bell between Ricky Hatton and Marco Antonio Barrera pic.twitter.com/xbkQFC1Ghn
– Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) November 13, 2022
After the battle, an emotional Hatton pays tribute to his loyal followers.
“It is a pleasure to do this exhibition on Sky Sports. You were there at the beginning of my career when I was eighteen, 26 years ago. I’ve got my first fight on Sky Sports and I’m having my last fight on Sky Sports. “
“I don’t need to tell you what I think of the fans. They have always been my main achievement, and that proved it again tonight. “
All in all, it was a fun fight and the way boxing exhibitions should be conducted. After Evander Holyfield’s upset return to the ring and the trend’s mismatch in the sport, Hatton and Barrera got it right.
