On this day in 2002: Hatton keeps WBU belt as Smith is disqualified
The fight at the MEN Arena in Manchester ended 28 seconds into the second round after Stephen Smith's cornermen entered the ring.
Ricky Hatton retained his WBU light-welterweight title 24 years ago today, when Stephen Smith was disqualified in the second round of their fight at the MEN Arena in Manchester. The bout, scheduled for 12 rounds, was stopped 28 seconds into round two after Smith's cornermen entered the ring.
The win came eight days before Hatton's 24th birthday, with the biggest nights of his career still ahead. He went on to hold multiple world championships at light-welterweight and one at welterweight, and in 2005 he was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine, the Boxing Writers Association of America, ESPN and BoxingScene.
Known as "the Hitman", "the Pride of Hyde" and the "People's Champion", Hatton boxed professionally from 1997 to 2012 and later worked as a promoter and trainer. He died in September 2025, aged 46.
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