Apart from him there’s no British fighter with much of a reputation.”Things are not what they were and there is little to suggest that they will get better Thus nostalgia will rule in Cardiff tomorrow night. Where British title fights had appeal they have faded in importance.”On the golf course the other day, I put this to Richard Atkins, a former fighter and trainer who has practically lost all interest in the sport. “I don’t begrudge the money fighters can now get, but it’s discouraging when I see guys who would have struggled to get an area title in my day boxing for meaningless world championships,” he said. “I can’t remember the last time I attended a fight live and I rarely watch on television It’s no longer the sport I grew up in. When do you hear people in pubs talking about boxing? Hatton appears to have something but still has to prove himself against the best men at his weight. “We can be proud of improving the safety and welfare of boxers and, although the Board has come in for some criticism, it is respected world-wide. Unfortunately, however, we’ve reached the point where the television companies insist on world title fights no matter how dubious.

“If you look back over 25 years there have been many changes, some for the worse, some for the better,” he said. The exact period at which it used to better, however, varies in direct ratio with the age of the fellow telling about it. One thing about boxing upon which most initiates are in agreement is that it used to be better. If he was a fighter, it always turns out to be the time when he was fighting. Lawson was in Britain’s double scull last year and qualified for the Olympics in the single scull two weeks ago.

Hacker, who is originally from Magdeburg in Germany but who is now based in Munich, is making his second appearance at Henley. In 1999 he turned up wide-eyed and focused himself by taping “Ich Will” on the deck of his boat. It did the trick; he won the Diamonds against the American Jamie Koven.Since then he has achieved a world title in 2002 and a world silver last year, and is bound for Athens. Because the Athens Olympic course has a reputation for wind, wind is what Hacker hoped for here, and yesterday he found it He also came because there is a crowd.