On this day in 2000: Ricky Hatton beats Jon Thaxton for British title

Hatton had never been taken beyond six rounds as a professional before going the full 12 against Thaxton at the Wembley Conference Centre.

Ricky Hatton became British light-welterweight champion 26 years ago today, beating Jon Thaxton on points over 12 rounds for the vacant title at the Wembley Conference Centre in London on 21 October 2000. The win added a domestic belt to the regional titles Hatton, then 22, had already collected.

It was the first time in his career that he had boxed beyond six rounds. His four fights after winning the WBO Inter-Continental belt had all ended inside four rounds, and the month before facing Thaxton he took the WBA Inter-Continental title in a unification bout against Giuseppe Lauri.

That November, Hatton had plastic surgery on his eyebrow with a view to a world title shot in the spring. In March 2001 he claimed the vacant WBU title, putting Tony Pep on the canvas three times.

Known as "the Hitman" and the "People's Champion", Hatton went on to hold multiple world championships at light-welterweight and one at welterweight. In 2005 he was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine, the Boxing Writers Association of America, ESPN and BoxingScene. He boxed professionally until 2012, later worked as a promoter and trainer, and died in September 2025, aged 46.

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