Hatton: 'Depression is the toughest fight I've ever had".

[Counter-puncher]

Exactly John, it's all in the definition. Hatton has every reason to feel pissed off, his career ended badly and he fucked up in the News of the Screws, but did he ever show signs of or complain of being depressed before then? Maybe he did but didn't mention it, but I don't remember him mentioning it.

he's a jack-the-lad, thats just how Ricky Hatton is.

[Glyn Leach]

Exactly John, it's all in the definition. Hatton has every reason to feel pissed off, his career ended badly and he fucked up in the News of the Screws, but did he ever show signs of or complain of being depressed before then? Maybe he did but didn't mention it, but I don't remember him mentioning it.

he's a jack-the-lad, thats just how Ricky Hatton is.

Yep. We can pontificate all day really, and it's been enjoyable, but we don't know what the eff is going on in the fella's head.

[banjo]

What you've got to remember is the bloke has been boxing for how long? Since he was 8? Maybe earlier?

It's been his life for as long as he remembers, he put his heart and soul into achieving his dream and he did it, the problem is however it can only go downhill from there and yes he does have a huge amount of money to fall back on but after being involved in something for so long and now the possibility that the journey has come to an end it has to be hard to accept.

Bruno said a similar thing, for so long he was the most loved sportsman in the country and then all of a sudden there was no more "Bruno! Bruno! Bruno!" no real reason to get up in the morning as the one thing he loved doing was over, the Frank Bruno Express had reached the end of the line.

Depression is an evil fornicator and anyone of us can fall victim to it no matter how rich or poor we may be.

[jtourettes]

Some good points raised here.

The problem for me is defining what is depression.

Sutherland had it. Of course he did - because he ended up dead over it.

Does Hatton have that same depression? Or is he having a form of the post holiday depression we all get in some form or another? You know when you go and have a brilliant holiday or do some travelling and then come back and are depressed that you have to fit back into the daily routine of the office?

What would Max Clifford say if Hatton went to him after being caught out taking drugs and shamed in a national newspaper?

"Come on young lad. Admit that you were wrong and that you are suffering depression and get yourself booked into rehab for a few weeks. By the time you come out people will go from saying what a pudendum you are to what a brave hero you are".

Didn't they say he was an alcoholic but now he says he is controlling it to only every other week? I know reformed alcoholics and they will tell you that any alcoholic who tells you he can control his drinking isn't yet ready to face up to the truth.

I can't say that Hatton doesn't suffer from depression or what the extend of such depression is but all this talk of black holes etc. - I'd imagine not everybody feels suicidal and that you don't need to be suicidal to be diagnosed with depression. People on here are saying "if you have depression it will always be there with you". I don't really agree with that. I think there are of course different levels of depression, many of which are treatable and probably curable. In many of the worst cases the depressed person portrays little sign of it before taking their own life.

There is no exact science behind it and nobody can say the only treatment is pills that are available on the NHS to try to correct a chemical imbalance. How can anybody write off the work of psychiatrists whom have worked hard to help people with depression and have achieved favourable results?

I agree with a some of what you said here and clinical depression does have different levels, from mild to severe. Some people are lucky (not the best word but it'll do for now) enough to get depressed for a reason ie death of a loved one (but outside of normal grieving or post holiday blues) and it can be quite treatable with a short dose of AD's. Those unfortunate enough to have the chemical imbalance tend to be the ones that that are fucked permanently and have to deal with it the best they can by going through different drugs to find out what works, chopping and changing doctors, counsellors, psychs etc etc

As you've stated, it's not an exact science and is hard to quantify. I don't put too much weight into the word of psychiatrists though

[Final round]

Well I'm pleased that Ricky has learned to live with his career ending the way it did and to not go down the road to oblivion.
He's always seemed like a genuine bloke to me with normal feelings and ambitions.
Most of us hit a wall of sorts in life and realise we are not going to quite achieve our ambitions but you find happiness in other ways hopefully.. speaking from experience so far.

[the truth]

Depressed about what losing two fights to two all time greats? Then having to call it a day as a British boxing legend with ten million plus in the bank? Jeez wish I had his problem, what a Piss take.

[whiskey]

Depression is hideous.

You know you have it if you prefer to wear a dressing gown all day at the weekend instead of your jeans !

(Unless your Hugh Hefner obviously)

[Andypittcov]

Depression is hideous.

You know you have it if you prefer to wear a dressing gown all day at the weekend instead of your jeans !

(Unless your Hugh Hefner obviously)

Oi I live in my effin dressing gown when I'm at home

[J]

my home is a dressing gown in a teepee styleeeeeeeee

[Wrists]

My argument was based on the assumption that Hatton was 'clinically depressed'.

Have no reason to doubt whether he was or wasn't.

Agreed that some people claim to have 'depression' when they don't. Totally agree with that point.

But based on the assumption that Hatton genuinely was depressed (and why should we assume otherwise) then the amount of money he has in the bank makes no difference whatsoever.

[deadpan]

Lots of people really don't understand depression. Too many from the John Gregory school of empathy around here.

[keithmoonhangover]

Lots of people really don't understand depression. Too many from the John Gregory school of empathy around here.

I agree mate. Two people I know killed themself, the first was rich, the second was a succesfull solicitor.

Having money has got bot all to do with it.

[coghaugen11]

Depression is impossible to understand unless you've experienced it.

Serotonin stops being developed in the brain, a chemical that produces happiness and optimistic/positive thought processes. So you're whole situation and existance seems horrificially worse than it is, in your head, and it feels and is very real.

Thinking is an effort, speaking is a struggle, moving is tough, focus is near non-existant, adrenalin stops being produced, etc. It's basically like being a cripple, and why would you want to live like that?

Those diagnosed with depression are done so because they were strongly considering (even planning) ending their lives out of psychological torment, and so are prescribed medication to help produce serotonin in the brain.

[Rocky Balboa]

Doctors, Medical Experts, even Professors, don't know what EXACTLY causes Depression & there is NO Cure for it.

There's no magic pills you can Consume & then the next day, you wake not feeling Depressed! I have never suffered from Depression & I can only hope I never do.

To Suffer from something that no-one knows the cause of or how to Eradicate it, is not the most Pleasant experience, putting it mildly!

[maxwelljr927]

Fella i cant believe how much i actually agree with this post. You have hit the NAIL SMACK ON THE HEAD!

I find it very difficult to sympathise with a guy whom has earned well in excess of £10m throughout his career and has reached the pinnacle of his sport and come out the other side unharmed. I can understand in relative terms that going from being the man of the moment and being involved in so many adrenalin fuelled moments to being a has been must have an impact and will take some getting used to, but ultimately the guy has been blessed with a talent many of his peers have not had and has enjoyed highs most won't experience and has earned more money than most of them combined. Rather than tell us all about how difficult this battle has been for him, Ricky should probably be more thankful for all he has achieved and work on finding a non destructive way of enjoying himself outside of the ring. Is hitting rock bottom really getting publicly shamed for taking drugs whilst still having millions in the bank? Perhaps I'm being a little harsh here but can we really take a guy seriously when he says he has hit rock bottom yet his net worth is still in excess of £10m and himself and his family are in good health?

[crusader]

Money isn't everything. I know plenty of well off people who are miserable and I have had a lot of rough times myself despite having a stable, comfortable home life. If you think a large bank account can cure all the other wounds people have, you are ignorant. There is also a genetic component to depression that doesn't recognize material things.

[maxwelljr927]

Well i know that ive suffered with depression for 14 years and its hindered my careeer and theres only one person/thing that can fix it ME.

NOT sympathy. I didnt get it from WAZZa when i was begging for fights or from other fighters whom i helped but didnt help me. Just gotta keep on keeping on in a dignified manner and seek help for the right peeps.

NOT do an expose about all in a bid to clean up the boy next door image b4 the nation!

[crusader]

Different people deal with depression in different ways. I would not have taken the same approach Ricky has, as I am more reticent about these types of things, but perhaps talking about his problems really helps him.

[coghaugen11]

It was clear Ricky had issues with all the nonsense he was coming out with from '07 to '09 - contradictory and exaggerant self-defending/self-denial and all the third person stuff was beyond pride and just unclassy

[orbtastic]

Exactly John, it's all in the definition. Hatton has every reason to feel pissed off, his career ended badly and he fucked up in the News of the Screws, but did he ever show signs of or complain of being depressed before then? Maybe he did but didn't mention it, but I don't remember him mentioning it.

he's a jack-the-lad, thats just how Ricky Hatton is.

Yep. We can pontificate all day really, and it's been enjoyable, but we don't know what the eff is going on in the fella's head.

I saw he's still trotting out the "normal lad from a council estate, bright lights of Vegas" line on SKY last week.

[Counter-puncher]

he's a jack-the-lad, thats just how Ricky Hatton is.

[ArtOfWar]

The thing is everyone and their dog told Hatton he wouldn't have a long career with the way he lived his life. Going out on the piss and having a laugh isn't something you really remember when looking back on things. Had he taken care of himself better he might still be fighting well and he'd probably be more content inside as well.

As much as everyone likes a drink, the boozing lifestyle will f**k you up. Sniffing the sherbert doesn't help either. He's made every mistake he possibly could have and now needs to find a way to be content with what he has. It won't be easy, but there is no point in looking backwards.

[Wrists]

I find it hard to understand why and british fight fan would want to knock a guy who fought the best, beat some great fighters, was fundamentally down to earth, a nice guy and someone who put the sport in the spotlight for good reasons for a number of years.

Some of the anti Hatton stuff I hear at times astounds me it really does.

What's the problem?? Oh that's right he didn't fight Junior Witter........................

[Andypittcov]

I find it hard to understand why and british fight fan would want to knock a guy who fought the best, beat some great fighters, was fundamentally down to earth, a nice guy and someone who put the sport in the spotlight for good reasons for a number of years.

Some of the anti Hatton stuff I hear at times astounds me it really does.

What's the problem?? Oh that's right he didn't fight Junior Witter........................

It's the British Mentality to look for the negatives in everyone and everything.

[Wrists]

I find it hard to understand why and british fight fan would want to knock a guy who fought the best, beat some great fighters, was fundamentally down to earth, a nice guy and someone who put the sport in the spotlight for good reasons for a number of years.

Some of the anti Hatton stuff I hear at times astounds me it really does.

What's the problem?? Oh that's right he didn't fight Junior Witter........................

It's the British Mentality to look for the negatives in everyone and everything.

Don't get me started on that one again lol!!!!