Ricky Hatton puts paid to any retirement plans for now

24th March 2010

I didn’t believe that Ricky Hatton would officially announce his retirement on a boozed up stag night in Tennerife, he has far too much class than that. A slip of the tounge or a thought out loud, have obviously set the Chinese whispers off.

Hatton has now spoken on the subject of the retirement rumours and says that he will be the one to announce any decision, but insists he has not yet made up his mind, although most of us had believed he was back in the gym, shedding the weight and getting ready for a fight in May possibly against Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez.

The Manchester boxer had said last month, that he would be carrying on his career and that he had got the desire back in his belly, and was ready to climb through the ropes again in May for the 48th time as a pro, a year since his defeat to pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao.

Maybe when Ricky stepped back in the gym this time it was all that little bit harder, not that it isnt always hard, especially after a layoff, but he always had a target, another dream, another world title to go for, a shot at the pound for pound champion, twice.

Speaking in his column in the Manchester Evening News, Hatton, 31, the former light welterweight and Welterweight champion of the world (45-2, 32 KO’s) put paid to any rumours that he had shelved plans of retirement, or could it be that if he is going to call it a day he will do it with the dignIty and honesty we have come to expect from the Hitman.

Hatton also quashed any talk of him teaming up with American trainer Freddy Roach, Roach who trains Pacquiao and also Amir Khan, had been thought by many as an ideal match for Hatton, but Freddy himself ruled out working with Ricky when he expressed concerns of him fighting on, and advised him to retire.

“There has been a lot of hearsay in recent weeks regarding my retirement, but I urge my loyal fans to ignore the speculation; said Hatton.

“If, and when, I do eventually decide to retire, the announcement will be made by myself. I feel that I have earned the right to do it myself.

I was also interested to read that I had recently asked Freddie Roach to train me but that he turned me down. I wish to put the record straight that, while I have the utmost respect for Roach, I have never once asked him, or indeed considered him, to train me.”

For a young man from a council estate in Manchester to go on to top the bill in Las Vegas many times, in true world title showdown’s against the best fighters around, Ricky had a fantastic colourful career and the support that most other boxers could only wish for, and whatever he decides to do, his place among the best British Boxers of all time is already well and truly etched in stone.

By Chris Maylett

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