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
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 think that headband and that brylcreem and that gel on his hair will do him no good should we get it on.
What is happening is not ideal. Sometimes nothing goes smoothly in the preparation for fights, and that is when you have to show what kind of champion you are and deal with whatever is put in front of you. This is just another obstacle, and if it does go to court then I will be as equally determined to overcome it.
The one thing that's hurt in my career is people saying I don't want to come out of Manchester to fight people.
It's unbelievable really. For something that started off as a hobby, I ended up getting paid for doing it.
If you want to watch two guys knock hell out of each other, watch us.
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!
He's won't push me back on the night and he certainly wasn't going to push me back up there.
Winning the IBF title was the greatest night of my life. To give it up outside the ring is truly painful.
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.
I had to come to the United States to prove myself. I fought for a long time in England and a lot of people thought I was a protected fighter.
It was just 12 months ago that I was the one doing the chasing and looking for all the big names. I guess now I'm universally recognized as No. 1 in the division and they're all looking for me. To be in a position where I can pick my opponents, wow, that's a fighter's dream, really.
I'll go gentle on him, ... I promise not to rough him up too much. I just think him saying stuff like that is just him. He's like the Junior Witter of America, he hasn't got a good word to say about anyone expect himself. Personality wise, he's very different to me, that's for sure.
As an amateur, I couldn't get many fights. No one would fight me when I was a schoolboy.