Thank You - Ricky Hatton

[Adamj1987]

unfairly slated on the forums imo took boxing to a whole new audience

i've slated him alot but i think ive been too hard on him and wish him the best but hope he doesnt do his stand up routine for real

[carrotcruncher]

he got a lot of football fans interested in the sport which was good for boxing, so well done ricky

Not too sure that`s a good thing to be honest mate.Far too many chav like dic*heads at boxing these days.

Easy to dismiss Ricky as the King of the Chavs, a lumpen braindead wodge of Manc football fans who know little about boxing and will wander away from the sport now that their hero has seen sense apparently, albeit through the bottom of a beer glass. How does he manage to keep going for day after day after day?
But the trip has been a lot of fun. He was brilliantly steered to the top by you know who, and there some great nights. He was never better than the MEN when he beat Kostya Tszyu. Ok, it was perfect matchmaking, in that Tszyu had the name but no longer the ability and snap he had possessed a few years earlier, but Hatton still had to be at the top of his game to win. The atmosphere was electric, and Ricky was inspired. That was his night, and it is how he should best be remembered.
Thereafter he made his big money, and what a story it would have been if, somehow, he had managed to prevail against PBF. That he didn't is no disgrace against one of the finest fighters of recent times. Las Vegas that week was certainly an experience. But the warning signs should have been picked up that the bingeing was taking its toll by the time he fought Lazcano. The ninth round told its story, but the backslappers, ex coppers and relations masquerading as advisers would only tell Ricky what he wanted to hear. And that was not the logical line that he should quit. Mallignaggi, who can't break eggs, was a good opponent. But Ricky was damaged goods by the time he fought Pacquiao. Hurt in training, according to reports, in a camp that was a shambles and then getting into the ring, after a demonic weight loss regime, looking like something from a Nazi concentration camp. He had made the weight, but at what cost? The rest was only too predictable.
The hope is that he has not picked up damage that will come out in later years.
But with 20, 30, 40 million in the bank, he can live in whatever style he chooses, and if that's touring clubs and theatres with his Bernard Manning tribute show, I say good luck to him. If you can make a few quid from what you enjoy, you are a lucky man.
I hope the stories about him charging punters £20 a go for pictures aren't true. That would be degrading. I also want to believe those persistent 'bad lifestyle' whispers are inaccurate.
But as a boxing fan, if he is bowing out, the biggest thing I would like to say is thank you for giving some much great entertainment.

[hitman_hatton1]

still no confirmation then.

i assume spud gun has heard something from the camp for him to put this up.

lots of rumours swirling around still.

the mystery continues.

[stujones]

still no confirmation then.

i assume spud gun has heard something from the camp for him to put this up.

lots of rumours swirling around still.

the mystery continues.

These rumours are quite public............... it was on Sky sports news well before this thread. There was a quite a big report from tenerife.

you can view it on the skysports website..

But, still no confirmation from the man.

[Roars Like Me]

Yep i agree thanks Ricky, form the moment I saw you dropped by Magee I thought 'He'll never be a World Champ'
I've always been really keen to watch Ricky when you've been on so well done for everything you have done for boxing.

On a sidenote, his girlfriend will be secretly gutted as she'll always be going out with a fat bloke

[superpunchout]

he got a lot of football fans interested in the sport which was good for boxing, so well done ricky

Not too sure that`s a good thing to be honest mate.Far too many chav like dic*heads at boxing these days.

But 'chav' money is as good as any money and right now, boxing can't be too picky about where the dosh and attention comes from - I swear Oscar De La Hoya was fighting back tears when quizzed on Ricky's likely retirement during that BBC interview.

If Hatton does decide enough is enough then fair play to the man. Whilst he may not have been the very best to emerge from these isles, he's certainly in the top 20 and when all is said and done, it was one helluva joyride.

Great memories and the night he beat Tzsyu was a special and abiding hallmark in British boxing history and you can't ask more than that of anyone.

[Khaosai-Galaxy]

I hear that he isnt actually retiring just yet....

[Nightmare Roy]

I think he will stay retired, but it might be a little like the Naz situation, where by he drops the odd hint of coming back, when he needs some publicity, such as having a promotion coming up. Call me a cynic. Either way good look to him, i was always a big fan, he was one of the best fighters these shores have ever produced he just fell a little short against the P4P'ers.

[rob h]

Thank you for raping the british sport fans of there hard earned cash, fighting punch bags for the wbu title for years, thank you for nothing you fat ginger little prick.

[Finn]

He fought at the top & didn't shy away from the big-guys either.

He'll be missed big time.

errr....junior witter???? ... i think its fair to say that hatton avoided 'the hitter' ..

Witter isnt and never was in the same league as Hatton.

I still reckon we're instore for Hatton v JMM later in the year.

[whiskey]

I think Hatton is right up there with our country's best and he gave us some great times.

I just hope he'll be OK in retirement and will keep himself occupied with promoting.

It's very difficult to suddenly wake up one day and there are no interviews, no press people, no missed calls. Essentially become yesterday's man. Hopefully the trunk loads of cash and the huge memories will keep his chin up.

[lacollier883]

Chins

[hurlock]

i wouldnt pay too see him do stand up, i think the after dinner talking has gone to his head i mean take away the food & drink & non boxing fans at a show he wont raise no fake laughs DD

[mickey1975]

Ricky will always be in the spotlight as has "national treasure" status.

[Khaosai-Galaxy]

He fought at the top & didn't shy away from the big-guys either.

He'll be missed big time.

errr....junior witter???? ... i think its fair to say that hatton avoided 'the hitter' ..

Yes in 2010 some people are still posting on internet forums that Ricky Hatton ducked Junior Witter (and instead fought chumps lile Kosta Tsyu, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao...)



ffs

[Roars Like Me]

Thank you for raping the british sport fans of there hard earned cash, fighting punch bags for the wbu title for years, thank you for nothing you fat ginger little prick.

You shouldn't have gone and stayed home and watched on the telly then Although it was a rubbish title I enjoyed those fights so not sure what your point is..if people didn't want to watch it they wouldn't have regardless of the crapness of the strap.

Thanks for beating Tszyu, Maussa, Collazo (dubious I know), Urango, Castillo, Malignaggi and being competetive with Floyd athough no so much with Pac..
Yeah thanks for nothing

[Rocky Balboa]

Yep i agree thanks Ricky, form the moment I saw you dropped by Magee I thought 'He'll never be a World Champ'
I've always been really keen to watch Ricky when you've been on so well done for everything you have done for boxing.

On a sidenote, his girlfriend will be secretly gutted as she'll always be going out with a fat bloke

In respect of that, I think Ricky should be careful. He may not be skint, but his missus, Jennifer Dooley, if fit. She makes wearing glasses a sexy look! If he gets to out of shape for too long, she may go elsewhere?

Just a thought mind...

[whatashambles]

Ricky is back in the gym today, so retirement ain't happening for the moment

[hitman_hatton1]

Ricky is back in the gym today, so retirement ain't happening for the moment

on soccer am they said he was gonna announce it on tuesday.

tuesday has obviously come and gone.

a wind up perhaps.