Ricky In The Roar

Star recalls fan-tastic fight

- David Anderson

Around 22,000 fans filled Manchester’s MEN Arena 15 years ago to see if one of their favourite sporting sons could beat the legend Kostya Tszyu.

Since then, many more have claimed they were there to see Hatton take his place among British boxing’s immortals.

The fight did not start until 2 am for US TV, yet the atmosphere was as charged as any Manchester derby before or since.

And the roar from the crowd when Tszyu failed to come out for the 12th round would have been heard back in his home in Sydney.