Ricky Hatton
Ricky Hatton
Richard John "Ricky" Hatton, MBEis a British former professional boxer and current boxing promoter. During his twelve-year career he held the WBA, IBF, IBO, British, The Ring magazine and lineal light-welterweight titles, as well as the WBA welterweight title. Following a loss to Manny Pacquiao in 2009, Hatton put his career on a long hiatus, with rumours of a comeback circulating the media. On 7 July 2011, Hatton announced his retirement from the sport, but on 14 September 2012, more...
ProfessionBoxer
Date of Birth6 October 1978
CityStockport, England
The one thing that's hurt in my career is people saying I don't want to come out of Manchester to fight people.
I've been giving a little gamble on the roulette and just sitting having a coffee with the fans, chatting away.
I have always really liked Tom Jones and I can't wait to see him in action. One thing is for sure, I would rather be singing for a living than getting punched on the head.
Dad's tiny - his passport picture is a full-length shot. He looks like he just hopped off a key ring. Mum is a different matter, she's a bit of a handful to say the least. I love her more than anyone on this Earth. But she's a monster.
He's won't push me back on the night and he certainly wasn't going to push me back up there.
I was leaving the hotel to get to the fight when my phone went and someone said 'Hello Ricky, it's Tom'. I said 'Tom who?' and when he said 'Tom Jones' I told him to eff off! I thought it was a wind-up!
If you want to watch two guys knock hell out of each other, watch us.
It's unbelievable really. For something that started off as a hobby, I ended up getting paid for doing it.
As an amateur, I couldn't get many fights. No one would fight me when I was a schoolboy.
Winning the IBF title was the greatest night of my life. To give it up outside the ring is truly painful.
Both of us don't go backwards and I think that is the key to the fight. Whoever ends up going backwards is going to lose.
I'm a Mancunian born and bred and I feel I'm no different to the man in the crowd and it's nice to reward them. I want to become a great champion.