In a recent chat with Jim White and Simon Jordan on talkSPORT, Hatton opened up about his 2006 WBA Welterweight title fight against Collazo.
"That was my toughest fight. I mean, getting beat by Pacquiao like I did was very tough to come to terms with and Floyd Mayweather was just technically so good. From a physical point of view, [Collazo was tougher]. I never made fights easy for myself. I was always going to have it out with someone."
The fight took place in May 2006, with Hatton moving up to welterweight (10st 7lbs) for the first time. At 5ft 6in, Hatton was at a physical disadvantage. His coach, Billy Graham, advised against the move, but Hatton was determined.
"I wanted to do what my heroes had done. I wanted to try to become a world champion in two weight divisions."
The fight started with a bang. Hatton knocked Collazo down in the first 10 seconds, but the American quickly got up and fought back hard. Hatton soon realized he was in for a tough night.
"I hit him, and the shots just bounced off him. I went to shove him back and he didn't move. I thought, 'Oh this is going to be a long night.'"
The fight went the full 12 rounds, with Hatton winning by a narrow margin on the scorecards. He believes the early knockdown was crucial in securing his victory.
After the fight, Hatton felt worse than ever before. He experienced hot sweats, shakiness, and shivering, and couldn't even attend the afterparty.
Comparing Collazo to his other notable opponents, Hatton said Mayweather was "technically unreal" but not a big puncher. Collazo, on the other hand, packed a serious punch. "Every time he hit me, oh my lord!" Hatton exclaimed.
Hatton retired from professional boxing in 2012. However, fans will get to see him in action again soon. He's set to face Eisa Al Dah in Dubai this December. Both fighters are 46 years old, adding an interesting dynamic to the matchup.
Hatton's career was marked by his huge traveling support, often filling arenas in Las Vegas. His fights against Mayweather and Pacquiao were major events in the boxing world. Yet, it's the lesser-known Collazo fight that stands out as his toughest challenge.