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By PAT SHEEHAN
January 19, 2007
RICKY HATTON believes he is that much closer to achieving his dream — because his arms have lengthened.
The Hitman faces IBF world light-welterweight champion Juan Urango here tomorrow night.
And Hatton’s aim to be recognised as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter is now within reach as he has been correcting a defect he has had for seven years.
He revealed: “I have had trouble with my elbows before my last two fights, maybe three, and I switched physiotherapists to get the problem put right.
“This time the physio Stuart Cosgrove noticed something wrong immediately. He told me to put my arms out straight and when he saw them he couldn’t believe it.
“He said, ‘Your arms don’t go f***ing straight. You must be losing at least two inches on either side in your reach there’.
“When he asked me how long they had been like it, he expected me to say about seven weeks.
“He almost fell over when I replied, ‘About seven years!’ They just don’t go straight but I have been going to him constantly for stretching exercises since.
“Over the years my arms have got used to being slightly bent and they just locked.”
The tendons that connect Hatton’s forearms with his biceps had shortened after years of failing to ‘lock out’ his arms fully when exercising.
When the treatment with the physio is finished Hatton believes his reach will change from the current 63 to 65 inches.
He said: “The work with the physio is helping to straighten them out, lengthening them.
“I must admit it has been quite painful at times but it’s getting better. There’s nothing wrong with my elbows — it’s being done to simply improve my reach.”
January 19, 2007
RICKY HATTON believes he is that much closer to achieving his dream — because his arms have lengthened.
The Hitman faces IBF world light-welterweight champion Juan Urango here tomorrow night.
And Hatton’s aim to be recognised as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter is now within reach as he has been correcting a defect he has had for seven years.
He revealed: “I have had trouble with my elbows before my last two fights, maybe three, and I switched physiotherapists to get the problem put right.
“This time the physio Stuart Cosgrove noticed something wrong immediately. He told me to put my arms out straight and when he saw them he couldn’t believe it.
“He said, ‘Your arms don’t go f***ing straight. You must be losing at least two inches on either side in your reach there’.
“When he asked me how long they had been like it, he expected me to say about seven weeks.
“He almost fell over when I replied, ‘About seven years!’ They just don’t go straight but I have been going to him constantly for stretching exercises since.
“Over the years my arms have got used to being slightly bent and they just locked.”
The tendons that connect Hatton’s forearms with his biceps had shortened after years of failing to ‘lock out’ his arms fully when exercising.
When the treatment with the physio is finished Hatton believes his reach will change from the current 63 to 65 inches.
He said: “The work with the physio is helping to straighten them out, lengthening them.
“I must admit it has been quite painful at times but it’s getting better. There’s nothing wrong with my elbows — it’s being done to simply improve my reach.”
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