GET OUT NOW, RICKY
My mate has to quit ring for good
RICKY HATTON will undoubtedly have a pint today. He should raise the glass and dedicate it to his former life as a professional boxer and wait for the inevitable Knighthood.
But my pleas for Ricky to walk away from the most brutal of sports are likely to fall on death ears. Having sat ringside for 41 of Ricky's 47 fights I consider myself his friend
I'v witnessed the glory nights, the losses, his dad collapsing when Ricky bled for the first time and the distress from fiancée Jennifer Dooley after her man was pummelled by Manny Pacquiao and I say now that enough is enough.
He doesn't need money and isn't short of love with parents Ray and Carol, Jennifer and most British fight fans adoring he ground he walks on.
There are obvious worries for his health if he suffers another X-rated KO. But, what about the legacy of a man who is Britain's most popular boxer in history?
Hatton, a true gentleman, brought big-time boxing back to Britain. He owes us nothing. Another fight and Ricky risks tarnishing his amazing decade- long contribution to the nobe art.
Joke texts were already plaguing mobile networks when I landed back at Manchester Airport, just 36 hours after his second career loss. They weren't appreciated or laughed at. Hatton doesn't and never will deserve that treatment from fickle fans.
He's proud and the pain Hatton feels over that must be a lot worse than that received from his five knockdowns in the last 17 months against Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Pacquiao.
Having a farewell fight against a hand-picked opponent he can roll over is the worst possible scenario. Like a heroin addict saying 'this is the last fix,' the danger is he'll see a glimmer of hope of rolling back the years.
I first heard of the milk-skinned mauler when he was 13, training in the cellar of his parents' pub, and I jumped on the Hatton express when he beat Michael Hall to claim an ABA title in March, 1997.
A year later after three professional fights, we drove from Manchester to Liverpool to watch the titanic battle between Shea Neary and Andy Holligan. After Neary won the circus tent brawl, Hatton told me: "If I do half as well as him, I'll be happy."
That was achieved almost immediately and the ambitions got bigger and better. Life must have been a trance as he became world light-welterweight champion by beating Kostya Tszyu.
He fell short against Floyd Mayweather Jnr but vowed to fight on and become pound-for-pound champion before that dream died in Las Vegas last weekend.
In the days since being chopped down in 359 seconds by Filipino buzzsaw Pacquiao, I have spoken with dozens of fight promoters, managers, boxers and fans diagnosed with Hattonmania.
Every one recommended retirement, agreeing that Hatton has zero to prove. Good things come to those that wait, and it won't be too long before the Queen says: 'Arise Sir Ricky'.
Thanks for the memories pal but, please, no more with the gloves on.
This article has 34 comments
Hatton said: "If I beat Pacquiao I'd like to fight Marquez. Then next summer I'd love an open-air fight at Wembley Stadium against Floyd Mayweather Jnr. ----- Jesus, the he laid flat on his back, he might just as well continue his dream...courtesy of Manny Pacquiao....
By Lhyksus. Posted May 23 2009 at 12:24 PM.
I THINK RICKY SHOULD'VE STAYED WITH HIS OLD TRAINER JUST TRY AND WORK HARDER WITH THE TRAINING THAT BROUGHT YOU TO 35 WINS. RUN UP HILLS STRENTEN YOUR CHIN BY BITE ON RUBBER, WHY LEARN A NEW STYLE THAT WILL HAVE TO TAKE ANOTHER 35 FIGHT TO PERFECT!!!!!
I THINK HATTON CAN STILL FIGHT ON ONLY AFTER A LONG LAYOFF BUT STILL WORKOUT WITHOUT ANY INSTENSE SPARING, AND ONLY COME BACK
FOR THE PACMAN. I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!
By ICEEMAN THE JEWELER. Posted May 17 2009 at 9:46 AM.
Ricky Hadden is a great great tuff boxer, but that knockout was lightsout ! He's risking Serious Brain injury if he continues to fight, it is worth the Risk ?
By Peterhugh. Posted May 12 2009 at 5:34 PM.
nah... Ricky shouldn't retire, it was just it wasnt his night that time when he fought manny... but how come everytime a good boxers loses, people tell em' to retire? remember how manny lost to Morales... he came back strong and improved a lot! Hitman has a very long way to go... he's still young.... he still have the edge! Im a Hatton fan, but i'm a filipino... Go Ricky Hatton!!! Go! Go! Go! Ricky Hatton!
By anegro. Posted May 12 2009 at 4:37 AM.
hatton is still good to me.he just got the wrong trainer.who teach you alot of joke(mayweather sr).not boxing.hatton should move on and look for another trainer,like FREDDY ROACH.BECAUSE HIS ASST.MIKE MOOREIS THE BEST LIKE FREDDYROACH.HATTON VS JMM OR HATTON VS VELARO. MOVE ON HATTON...........U STILL GOT THE POWER.I PROUD OF U. IM FROM PI AND U FROM ENGLAND U STILL MY FRIEND GO MOVE ON! GOD BLESS U.....................................
By brother. Posted May 11 2009 at 9:40 AM.
Ricky Hatton will be a great loss if he retires, Pacman lost 3 times so what he rebuild his name by continuously learning from his mistake. Now he is better than ever. I believe Ricky Hatton needs a good trainer and he needs to listen to his trainer.
By PHilippinePride. Posted May 11 2009 at 8:48 AM.
Ricky still got what it takes to become a champion. Hold your head up high.
- Filipino and a Pacman fan.
By kobewankenobi. Posted May 11 2009 at 6:35 AM.
There Was Nothing wrong with Ricky Haddens training in this last fight - He was simply overmatched !
Pacquiao's SPEED and skill are just way way to much for him ! As it was for Delahoya !
Delahoya was in shape for that fight, and he is 35 - not 55 ! He was overmatched by the Devastating Pacman !
By Peter. Posted May 10 2009 at 6:08 PM.
Ricky Hadden is great and a very entertaining fighter,
but against the likes of Mayweather and Pacquiao, he is simply overmatched ! He can continue to fight lesser opponents if he likes, but that knockout by Pacman was very very brutal to his brain, he may be risking Serious injury if he fights again !
But good luck Ricky, there is NO shame in losing to Pacquiao, He is the best I have ever seen and he is peaking !
By Peterhugh. Posted May 10 2009 at 6:05 PM.
The loss of Hatton caused a deeper recession in UK. You know why, before the fight, Hatton said confidently and publicly "EMPTY THE BANK, REMORTGAGE YOUR HOUSE AND BET ON ME. I CAN BEAT THAT MAN EVERYDAY OF THE WEEK". Since Hatton is very popular in UK, British people did what he said. Unfortunately for them, Hatton was only strong in the mouth and lost the fight and the British people lost their money as well. Next time Ricky, More practice and less talk.
By john. Posted May 10 2009 at 5:37 PM.
At the end it will be Ricky H. to decide..to continue or not...
By Arman Aquino. Posted May 10 2009 at 12:41 PM.
Let ricky retire and enjoy his life away from the brutal sport , yes I think he is still in his prime but there is nothing more to prove ..... enjoy your family and live the life of a good man .... grow old with the woman you love and raise beautiful God fearing children .
By brunongbaboy. Posted May 10 2009 at 12:20 PM.
ricky should fight timothy bradley.,all filipino wants that fight happen.,ricky hatton is better than the unheralded champion bradley.,i hope ricky will not be discourage from his devastating lost to pacquiao. by the way, i read in the local newspaper in the philippines that manny wants ricky hatton to continue his career.,he said that ricky will get improve and become a real champion once again. hatton's lost twice, but those defeats come from the pound 4 pound fighters and i think it is not bad. ricky we will hope that you are really healthy now after suffering a hard lost to my great fighter countrymen. you had a bright future after all and we all filipinos love your fighting spirit.,we feel that you are one of us.,just do your always best and don't forget god before you fight.,see you ricky hatton in your bright future..,ricky will be a champion again.
By filipinoIstough. Posted May 10 2009 at 12:30 PM.
ricky hatton has a chance to prove that he's still in his prime and become a champion again!!! a Lost is a Lesson and bringing floyd sr. is a big mistakes that hatton has ever made in his entire career. floyd sr. is not a trainer.,he is a clown who wants to get attention to the public..,he's always talk and talk and talkshit against pacquiao and roach,.floyd sr. is unprofessional and i think he's the real amateur trainer that i've ever seen in the whole sports, not just boxing.
By pridePInoy. Posted May 10 2009 at 11:58 AM.
ricky should continue to fight to attain his goal. the L of a boxer is not just mean a Lost.,it is also a Lesson for a boxer who did a mistakes..,hatton had a big heart and a great skills but pacquiao is too much for him!!! the big mistake hatton did is to put mayweather sr. in his training camp.,floyd sr. is a clown and hatton is wasting money and time with floyd..,and the result is a devastating lost to the fearless filipino
By filipinoIStough. Posted May 10 2009 at 11:06 AM.
I agree with you! Ricky must hang his gloves, I suggest that he can be a good trainer,manager and a promoter. I am a Filipino and what I saw to his fight last saturday is a worst loss. maybe his mind and heart can fight but his body and health maybe not, let me remind that parkinsons has no cure until today.
Long live Ricky!
By Leonides. Posted May 10 2009 at 10:24 AM.
Ricky always said that he'd know when to retire, and that boxing wouldn't retire him.
Ricky should now listen to his own advice and stop now! He's got pots of cash and his health is still intact.
His punch resistence has deminished, and he isn't the fighter he once was. For Ricky, he has to fight whoever is at the top, which sadly is something which he has to accept that he can't get into anymore.
Look at the great Mike Tyson, despite his obvious craziness, he was an awesome boxer in his day, look what a joke he became because he fought on. Obviously to do with money, but his legendary status must have been torn to shreds.
I love Ricky Hatton, but theres no shame losing twice, especially to the best. Give it up!
By karl crosby. Posted May 10 2009 at 9:16 AM.
pacquiao lost his first battle with morales and suffered a draw with marquez in thei first meet. For a while everybody thought that the end is in sight before it can even begin, but Manny got up and learned from that. So I believe Ricky can stikk come back. How? I really dont know but I do believe he still has I or 2 more fights in him.
By tipaklong. Posted May 10 2009 at 9:15 AM.
HERE IS THE STORY. THERE WAS EXCITEMENT AND ELECTRIFYING MOMENT WHEN PACMAN KO'ED HITMAN IN THE SECOND ROUND. SUDDENLY, THERE WAS THAT FEELING OF BEING STUNNED, SHOCK AND FEAR THAT THE HITMAN COULD'NT WAKE UP ANYMORE. THEN, THERE WAS THAT SAD FEELING WHEN THE VIDEO SHOWED JENIFER DOOLEY HITMAN'S FIAN'CEE CRYING. ALONG WITH THE BRITISH FAN IN DISTRESS. AND THEN, THERE WAS RELIEF AND JOY WHEN HITMAN AWAKEN AND LOOKS HE IS FINE BUT NOT OKEY.... ALL I WANT TO SAY IS MAYBE IT'S TIME FOR YOU RICKY TO HUNG UP THE GLOVES... PLEASE!!! ANYWAY, YOU WILL BE REMEMBERED AS ONE OF THE GREATEST BRITISH KNIGHT WHO ONCE FOUGHT A KING. A KING, IN THE SENSE THAT MANNY HAS INDEED A ROYAL BLOOD RUNNING THROUGH HIS VEINS. I BELIEVE THAT WITH OUT ANY DOUBT. MANNY IS A DESCENDANT OF LAPU LAPU. A TRUE DATU OR KING A LONG TIME AGO!!!!
By kaido. Posted May 10 2009 at 8:58 AM.
Hatton is an exciting and fearless boxer of our day, not like Fraud Gayweather. People, please don't make him hang up his gloves...not just yet. Come on Ricky, raise up your guard and fight, fight, fight like you used to do.
By Desmer. Posted May 10 2009 at 8:35 AM.
hatton is still a best boxer. i want to see him fight juan manuel marquez
By jbv. Posted May 10 2009 at 7:22 AM.
ricky should join the band OASIS and go away from boxing before he suffer another KO against katsidis.
By uhog. Posted May 10 2009 at 7:36 AM.
I'm a filipino.... I am amaze what hatton did in his bout against our pacman..... he never runs but instead he is the one attacking.... he is a courageous englishman.... he is never afraid of pacman...... not like barrera who is always running, fighting for his life, not be knockdown..... I give hatton a thumbs up..... but he play pacman game that made him loose the fight so early..... there still a bright future to this man....... inside and outside of the ring.......
By Bejo . Posted May 10 2009 at 6:58 AM.
Without doubt Ricky could still fight, he could still compete and possibly beat Juan Manuel Marquez or Floyd Mayweather given that he will go to hollywood and take Freddie Roach as his trainer. Which means stop talking and start learning.
Sadly the only thing that he learned from Mayweather Sr. is to talk, talk and talk... which in my opinion made him the bad guy.
By Apsrising. Posted May 10 2009 at 6:32 AM.
Seeing the brutal knockout, no one can blame Hatton's family and close friends for the advice that Hatton hang up his gloves. Personally, I don't think Hatton should. He is not finished. Like De la Hoya, there was something that went wrong with the training. Obviously, his team overlooked something. Worst, Hatton made a wrong choice of trainer in Mayweather. If Hatton chooses to fight on, I believe he has a very good chance of beating Bradley. No need to handpick the next opponent. He still has the goods.
By jiffyjay. Posted May 10 2009 at 5:49 AM.
ricky hatton made only 1 mistake, and thats for bringing in FM.sr
By takeo. Posted May 10 2009 at 5:41 AM.
Ricky Hatton's a fine gentleman and probably one of the better boxers of this generation. His only mistake was to take Mayweather Sr as his trainer who was busier talking rather than seriously preparing Ricky for his make or break fight. Regardless of the result with his fight with Manny Pacquiao, he should hold his head up high. He never backed out from boxing's pound-for-pound king. I salute you!
By Judge. Posted May 10 2009 at 5:36 AM.
ricky's losses came from the best p4p fighters, imo if he continues to box, he will still beat the likes of bradley and other lineal champions of his division. that loss does not make him less of a fighter even pacman said that.
By aymokay. Posted May 10 2009 at 5:26 AM.
Ricky needs to stop boxing before chronic brain injury kicks in. I was happy that my man knocked him out but when he was out cold, I felt sad when I looked at him almost lifeless while his family was in shock. No boxer should ever put himself again in that precarious situation. No boxer should ever put their family in that predicament again. I am sorry but Ricky should retire after that one sided fight. If he fights Katsidis or any B fighter and loose in Manchester, he would embarrass himself and put himself again in harms way.
By Polar 571. Posted May 10 2009 at 5:20 AM.
I salute Richard Hatton for proving something that Floyd Mayweather Jr. did not prove before....God save Ricky!!!!
By Xelium. Posted May 10 2009 at 4:34 AM.
Come to the Philippines Ricky Hatton, we will help you heal your wounds.
By bong. Posted May 10 2009 at 4:21 AM.
Let's give the man a farewell fight. Bring ODLH in Manchestter.
By barok. Posted May 10 2009 at 3:32 AM.
Hatton made the boxing sport more brutal and frightening because he battle with Pacquiao without any preparation. He's completely confident and obviously under estimate the little guy. I think Floyd and Hatton will definitely won if they join the "Debate Contest."
By sean. Posted May 10 2009 at 3:38 AM.
"and wait for the inevitable Knighthood"
er....for what, exactly ? Hatton's recent record is poor and he is far from the so-called "best pound-for-pound boxer in the world" - an accolade that was rightly won a long time ago by Joe calzhage/ There is a time for every boxer to retire, and hatton's time is now, or, more accurately a year ago
By Keith Price. Posted May 10 2009 at 12:49 AM.