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[NEW] Ricky Hatton Blames Pacquiao Loss on Mayweather Sr.
Hatton - I trained too hard
Hatton blames Pacquiao KO on training regime
Ricky Hatton has said the training regime overseen by Floyd Mayweather Sr for his fight against Manny Pacquiao left him feeling like a "man going to the gallows" on the night of his defeat.
The 'Hitman', who announced on Wednesday that he is returning to the ring for a comeback fight this summer, claimed that Mayweather Sr over-trained him with the result that he peaked too soon.
In the event, Pacquiao knocked him out inside two rounds in Las Vegas last May - Hatton left sprawled semi-conscious on the canvas after his comprehensive loss.
The Mancunian immediately faced calls to hang up his gloves but has elected to continue - a decision Hatton says was in part taken with a desire to prove to critics he was not at his best against the Filipino.
"You always get the odd critic that will say 'he shouldn't fight again, he's past it'," he said.
"These are people who probably sit in their armchair and only watched the fight, the two rounds on television, and they came to the conclusion that I'm past it.
"It was only in my previous fight a few months earlier that I put in one of my best performances against [Paulie] Malignaggi. All of a sudden they think I'm past it in the next five months.
"That wasn't the case - it was a case of just being a little bit over-trained and I was walking to the ring that night like a man going to the gallows.
"I knew it was too soon, and I was just hoping just to get one lucky punch in. That's not the way you should go into fights.
"You can't argue with the result, but what happened in the training camp which led to the result could have been a lot better.
"I was down on weight very early, I was sparring a lot earlier than normal and consequently I peaked too soon.
"Where I should have taken my foot off the gas and had a bit of a rest, my trainer put my foot on the gas and in the end it burned me.
"I don't think Manny Pacquiao beat me at my best that night and that's what is making me come back."
Decisions soon
Hatton is now scouting for a new trainer, with fellow Mancunian Joe Gallagher having been linked with the role.
The 31-year-old said he will decide soon who he will be working with - as well as who he will be fighting.
"There have been a few trainers mentioned and I have not quite made my mind up yet," Hatton said.
"I'll keep my options open, but all the trainers I've got in mind are exceptional trainers.
"I go on holiday next week and while I'm there I'll do a lot of thinking and my team in the mean time can get cracking on an opponent. I'll make a decision on a trainer the minute I get back, and then go straight into training."
The prospect of an all-British fight with Amir Khan appears unlikely as long as the WBA light-welterweight champion is promoted by Frank Warren.
Similarly, the possibility of a rematch against either Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather Jr, who inflicted the only other defeat upon him in his professional career, are remote.
However, Hatton has identified Juan Urango - who he beat in 2007 - and Juan Manuel Marquez as potential opponents for a contest that looks set to be staged in the UK.
"I want to finish at the top and I want to fight a world champion, that's why I have mentioned Juan Urango and Juan Manuel Marquez," Hatton said.
"But I don't think I will be fighting Mayweather or Pacquiao - they are the pound-for-pound number ones and I don't think I deserve to fight them until I redeem myself.
"Marquez is a possibility with the link with (promoters) Golden Boy, but we are going to look at several opponents and every single champion at light-welterweight is a possibility."
Hatton blames Pacquiao KO on training regime
Ricky Hatton has said the training regime overseen by Floyd Mayweather Sr for his fight against Manny Pacquiao left him feeling like a "man going to the gallows" on the night of his defeat.
The 'Hitman', who announced on Wednesday that he is returning to the ring for a comeback fight this summer, claimed that Mayweather Sr over-trained him with the result that he peaked too soon.
In the event, Pacquiao knocked him out inside two rounds in Las Vegas last May - Hatton left sprawled semi-conscious on the canvas after his comprehensive loss.
The Mancunian immediately faced calls to hang up his gloves but has elected to continue - a decision Hatton says was in part taken with a desire to prove to critics he was not at his best against the Filipino.
"You always get the odd critic that will say 'he shouldn't fight again, he's past it'," he said.
"These are people who probably sit in their armchair and only watched the fight, the two rounds on television, and they came to the conclusion that I'm past it.
"It was only in my previous fight a few months earlier that I put in one of my best performances against [Paulie] Malignaggi. All of a sudden they think I'm past it in the next five months.
"That wasn't the case - it was a case of just being a little bit over-trained and I was walking to the ring that night like a man going to the gallows.
"I knew it was too soon, and I was just hoping just to get one lucky punch in. That's not the way you should go into fights.
"You can't argue with the result, but what happened in the training camp which led to the result could have been a lot better.
"I was down on weight very early, I was sparring a lot earlier than normal and consequently I peaked too soon.
"Where I should have taken my foot off the gas and had a bit of a rest, my trainer put my foot on the gas and in the end it burned me.
"I don't think Manny Pacquiao beat me at my best that night and that's what is making me come back."
Decisions soon
Hatton is now scouting for a new trainer, with fellow Mancunian Joe Gallagher having been linked with the role.
The 31-year-old said he will decide soon who he will be working with - as well as who he will be fighting.
"There have been a few trainers mentioned and I have not quite made my mind up yet," Hatton said.
"I'll keep my options open, but all the trainers I've got in mind are exceptional trainers.
"I go on holiday next week and while I'm there I'll do a lot of thinking and my team in the mean time can get cracking on an opponent. I'll make a decision on a trainer the minute I get back, and then go straight into training."
The prospect of an all-British fight with Amir Khan appears unlikely as long as the WBA light-welterweight champion is promoted by Frank Warren.
Similarly, the possibility of a rematch against either Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather Jr, who inflicted the only other defeat upon him in his professional career, are remote.
However, Hatton has identified Juan Urango - who he beat in 2007 - and Juan Manuel Marquez as potential opponents for a contest that looks set to be staged in the UK.
"I want to finish at the top and I want to fight a world champion, that's why I have mentioned Juan Urango and Juan Manuel Marquez," Hatton said.
"But I don't think I will be fighting Mayweather or Pacquiao - they are the pound-for-pound number ones and I don't think I deserve to fight them until I redeem myself.
"Marquez is a possibility with the link with (promoters) Golden Boy, but we are going to look at several opponents and every single champion at light-welterweight is a possibility."
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