At one point in the not too distant past, Ricky Hatton was one of the most feared pugilists in the squared circle. With a pressuring style and a relentless attack to the body, opponents would fall like a stack of dominoes. Each brutal win would command the cheers and roars of rabid English fans, who sang to the tune of “walking in a Hatton wonderland.” This is all came crashing down on the night of December 8th, 2007 via a Mayweather check left hook. Some say Hatton was never the same again after that titanic first loss. He continued on fighting until he was met with his second loss to Manny Pacquiao. Since that stunning second round KO, It has been two years since we have seen Hatton back in the ring; A turbulent two years to be quite frank.
Admitting to depression, binge drinking and drug addition, Hatton has attempted to turn the page and get himself back together. He put on his promoters cap and made a splash on the European scene promoting fights. He has had a good amount of success and even seems to be slimming down bit by bit. He made a surprise appearance earlier this week at the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez open work out, obviously to help promote the fight but also likely to see the form Alvarez is in as he prepares to fight his brother Matthew Hatton this Saturday at the Honda Center. ” I’m excited for this bout and for me brother. I few years back I would of never imagined my brother fighting for a world title,” said Hatton.
The younger Hatton certainly has a task ahead of him. He is giving up a good amount of size coming into this now super welterweight title bout. Ricky for his part, still believes his brother has advantages of his own, “My brother definitely has the speed advantage. This is a good match up.”
Hatton though seems happy at the current place he is at now. When asked if he would fight again, Hatton responded, ” At this current place in time I have no desire to do so, the only way I am making a comeback is if that burning desire, that fire in the belly comes back and at this time I don’t have it. That is not to say at 32 years of age it will not come back though.”
Hatton is certainly at a fork in the road, contemplating being retired and working on promoting full time or somehow reigniting that spark he talked to us about. One could only imagine if Saul “Canelo” Alvarez could be the reigniting spark, as win over Matthew Hatton in impressive fashion has to make the former world champion thinking about stepping in the ring to protect the family name.
