Hatton will out earn Lennox Lewis, claims Maloney
Boxing promoter Frank Maloney believes Ricky Hatton is the "biggest British sportsman in years" and says he is a more attractive crowd puller World Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis ever was. Hatton will fight Juan Lazcano in the City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday and with 55,000 expected to turn out to watch "Hatton's Homecoming".
Maloney praised the Hitman's ability to get the public interest in the sport.
He said: "When I first got into boxing I was told there was two types of business in boxing: there is the boxing business and then there is the heavyweight business.
"Since getting involved with Ricky and his team I have realised there is the boxing business, the heavyweight business and then the Hatton business.
"Lennox Lewis would never have been able to sell 55,000 tickets for a fight, it would be impossible for anyone to do that.
"He is taking boxing to a new level. This is more than a boxing match, this is an event and that is all down to Ricky himself.
"No sportsman in the history on British sport has done this before. Ricky is responsible for 55,000 people turning up at the City of Manchester Stadium. He is unique to the public.
"I think he will show the way forward in this business on how to get the crowds there.
"Everybody will be out enjoying themselves by 11pm if I am not mistaken, any other promoter facilitates the American TV but Ricky is doing this fight for the British public.
"I think RIcky will out earn Lennox Lewis, it will take some doing but it can be done over the next three of four fights."
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Posted by GamingNut – 14 May 2008, 3:30 AM
Ricky Hatton has a way of attracting large crowds of fans, like few other boxers in this day and age. Of course it definitely helps that he is also one of the best boxers around right now. Given some time, I really could see him becoming a Hall of famer or such, and he deserves it.