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Hatton: I've been crying every day since manny beat me
HATTON: I'VE BEEN CRYING EVERY DAY SINCE MANNY BEAT ME
May 2009 By Kevin Francis
RICKY Hatton last night admitted that he is still undecided about his future - and has been reduced to tears since being knocked out by Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas 10 days ago.
'The Hitman' confessed that he has had spells of crying following the second-round defeat, saying: "There have been tears. After all, it has been difficult to take for me."
However, he has not yet made any decision about his future, adding: "I just want to rest, re-charge my batteries and get life back to normal.
"I'm not saying it is over yet, but I am not in a position to make a final call. Once I get back to normal, I'll be in a position to decide what I want to do."
Hatton opened his new gym in his home town of Hyde in Manchester last night and, speaking for the first time since that devastating KO, revealed that he had spent the days following the Pacquiao fi ght pondering over whether to retire or not.
As he celebrated the opening of 'Ricky Hatton's Health and Fitness Gym', he said: "You won't hear the last of me in boxing, but the physical side of fi ghting is the last thing that should be on my mind right now."
On the fi ght, he added: "I feel I have let everyone down. You can't get a more embarrassing result, really - knocked down after two seconds and then knocked out.
"I don't feel like showing my face. I've got a couple of dinner shows to do in Coventry and outhport, but I'm thinking the sooner I get out there and deal with all of this, the better.
"But this is a little bit more embarrassing for me to deal with. I suppose I can look at the shows as a bit of rehab.
"However, I have huge pride in myself and this defeat to Manny was hard for me to take."
As Hatton ponders his future, he basically has two options left to him: either retire from the ring or have one more farewell fi ght in Manchester later this year.
He has already set a precedent for precisely that kind of bout after he had suffered the first defeat of his career when losing via a 10th-round TKO to Floyd Mayweather Jr in Las Vegas in December 2007.
The following May he attracted a whopping crowd of 55,000 to Manchester City's Eastlands Stadium to see him bounce back with a unanimous points decision over Juan Lazcano.
But Hatton is still coming to terms with the fact that he lost badly again in Vegas, saying: "I'm still devastated about it and spending time with my family is my priority now, so I can't say what I am going on to do.
"Whatever I decide to do - and I am not saying I am the best British fi ghter by any means - I don't think any British fighter has had a following like me. There was about 25,000 in Vegas this time. Incredible support.
"Before this fight and the Mayweather fi ght, I am told the record was about 10,000. It doesn't even come close. It is incredible stuff.
"It's easy for people to say: 'Hang them up, Ricky. It's going to be a great life out of the ring.'
"But you need fi nal closure on these things. It will be the most important decision I will ever make.
"Maybe I will say: 'Come on, Ricky, bounce back' when some are expecting me to retire. Right now, I don't feel that I ever want to lace on another pair of gloves."
Hatton has lost just two of his 47 bouts, but there must be fears for his health if he ever climbed into the ring again.
The 30-year-old now has his own promotional company with a growing stable of boxers under his banner.
In addition, he has a lucrative clothing business and certainly doesn't need to box for the money.
His dad and manager Ray said: "He's taking his time. Once he makes up his mind that will be it. Knowing him, it will be final and certainly he won't be a Frank Sinatra
May 2009 By Kevin Francis
RICKY Hatton last night admitted that he is still undecided about his future - and has been reduced to tears since being knocked out by Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas 10 days ago.
'The Hitman' confessed that he has had spells of crying following the second-round defeat, saying: "There have been tears. After all, it has been difficult to take for me."
However, he has not yet made any decision about his future, adding: "I just want to rest, re-charge my batteries and get life back to normal.
"I'm not saying it is over yet, but I am not in a position to make a final call. Once I get back to normal, I'll be in a position to decide what I want to do."
Hatton opened his new gym in his home town of Hyde in Manchester last night and, speaking for the first time since that devastating KO, revealed that he had spent the days following the Pacquiao fi ght pondering over whether to retire or not.
As he celebrated the opening of 'Ricky Hatton's Health and Fitness Gym', he said: "You won't hear the last of me in boxing, but the physical side of fi ghting is the last thing that should be on my mind right now."
On the fi ght, he added: "I feel I have let everyone down. You can't get a more embarrassing result, really - knocked down after two seconds and then knocked out.
"I don't feel like showing my face. I've got a couple of dinner shows to do in Coventry and outhport, but I'm thinking the sooner I get out there and deal with all of this, the better.
"But this is a little bit more embarrassing for me to deal with. I suppose I can look at the shows as a bit of rehab.
"However, I have huge pride in myself and this defeat to Manny was hard for me to take."
As Hatton ponders his future, he basically has two options left to him: either retire from the ring or have one more farewell fi ght in Manchester later this year.
He has already set a precedent for precisely that kind of bout after he had suffered the first defeat of his career when losing via a 10th-round TKO to Floyd Mayweather Jr in Las Vegas in December 2007.
The following May he attracted a whopping crowd of 55,000 to Manchester City's Eastlands Stadium to see him bounce back with a unanimous points decision over Juan Lazcano.
But Hatton is still coming to terms with the fact that he lost badly again in Vegas, saying: "I'm still devastated about it and spending time with my family is my priority now, so I can't say what I am going on to do.
"Whatever I decide to do - and I am not saying I am the best British fi ghter by any means - I don't think any British fighter has had a following like me. There was about 25,000 in Vegas this time. Incredible support.
"Before this fight and the Mayweather fi ght, I am told the record was about 10,000. It doesn't even come close. It is incredible stuff.
"It's easy for people to say: 'Hang them up, Ricky. It's going to be a great life out of the ring.'
"But you need fi nal closure on these things. It will be the most important decision I will ever make.
"Maybe I will say: 'Come on, Ricky, bounce back' when some are expecting me to retire. Right now, I don't feel that I ever want to lace on another pair of gloves."
Hatton has lost just two of his 47 bouts, but there must be fears for his health if he ever climbed into the ring again.
The 30-year-old now has his own promotional company with a growing stable of boxers under his banner.
In addition, he has a lucrative clothing business and certainly doesn't need to box for the money.
His dad and manager Ray said: "He's taking his time. Once he makes up his mind that will be it. Knowing him, it will be final and certainly he won't be a Frank Sinatra
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