Tweet
By COLIN HART
RICKY HATTON could be shocked into deciding never to fight again when he greets a very special guest at his gym next week.
Since being viciously knocked out by Manny Pacquiao three months ago, he has been pondering the possibility of quitting his illustrious ring career.
Most boxing people who have watched Hatton decline as a mean fighting machine these last few years would love to see him retire.
Ricky is obviously finding it difficult to make up his mind and has intimated he will wait until next year before reaching a conclusion.
But when he comes face-to-face with his visitor on Wednesday morning, he will be confronted by living proof of what can happen if you carry on fighting too long.
Muhammad Ali is coming on a short tour of England and Ireland and his first engagement will be to say hello to Britain's former two-time world champion.
Ali, the greatest sportsman of the 20th century and undeniably the most articulate, is now totally ravaged by Parkinson's disease.
The powerful drugs he takes at least stop him from shaking uncontrollably. But he can no longer walk unaided and that famous motor-mouth is sadly silenced.
I find it particularly heartbreaking to see him in this state, having been so close to him while covering all his major fights in the 10 years from 1971.
Dr Ferdie Pacheco, Ali's personal physician who used to work in his corner, is in no doubt what has exacerbated his present pitiful condition.
Pacheco has neurological evidence that the 10 fights Ali had after beating Joe Frazier in the brutal 'Thrilla in Manila' 34 years ago contributed considerably to his rapid decline in health.
Two years later, Pacheco begged Ali, now 67, to turn it in after his war with Earnie Shavers.
But the three-time world heavyweight champion, encouraged by members of his entourage, ignored Ferdie's pleas and fought on for four more damaging years.
Let us hope seeing Ali at close quarters will make Ricky realise it would be wise to err on the side of caution.
Ali is attending two functions here in his honour - a dinner at Old Trafford on August 26 and a lunch at Stoke City's Britannia Stadium the following day.
VIPs at both events can be photographed with Ali but it will cost them £1,250 each for the privilege.
The proceeds will go to the Muhammad Ali Center in his home town of Louisville, Kentucky, as well as to children's charities.
Part of Ali's trip has been organised by Mammoth Events and took 12 months to plan.
Managing director Stephen Beverley said: "I had to make four journeys to Louisville and supply references from George Foreman, Sugar Ray Leonard, Larry Holmes, Joe Calzaghe and Hatton before Ali's people agreed for him to come over."
Among Old Trafford guests, besides Manchester United stars like Wayne Rooney, will be former British opponents Richard Dunn and Brian London.
Sir Henry Cooper, one of only three men to put Ali on his backside, will have his reunion at the Alltech European Jumping and Dressage Championships in the grounds of Windsor Castle on August 29.
© 2009 News Group Newspapers Ltd. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited.
RICKY HATTON could be shocked into deciding never to fight again when he greets a very special guest at his gym next week.
Since being viciously knocked out by Manny Pacquiao three months ago, he has been pondering the possibility of quitting his illustrious ring career.
Most boxing people who have watched Hatton decline as a mean fighting machine these last few years would love to see him retire.
Ricky is obviously finding it difficult to make up his mind and has intimated he will wait until next year before reaching a conclusion.
But when he comes face-to-face with his visitor on Wednesday morning, he will be confronted by living proof of what can happen if you carry on fighting too long.
Muhammad Ali is coming on a short tour of England and Ireland and his first engagement will be to say hello to Britain's former two-time world champion.
Ali, the greatest sportsman of the 20th century and undeniably the most articulate, is now totally ravaged by Parkinson's disease.
The powerful drugs he takes at least stop him from shaking uncontrollably. But he can no longer walk unaided and that famous motor-mouth is sadly silenced.
I find it particularly heartbreaking to see him in this state, having been so close to him while covering all his major fights in the 10 years from 1971.
Dr Ferdie Pacheco, Ali's personal physician who used to work in his corner, is in no doubt what has exacerbated his present pitiful condition.
Pacheco has neurological evidence that the 10 fights Ali had after beating Joe Frazier in the brutal 'Thrilla in Manila' 34 years ago contributed considerably to his rapid decline in health.
Two years later, Pacheco begged Ali, now 67, to turn it in after his war with Earnie Shavers.
But the three-time world heavyweight champion, encouraged by members of his entourage, ignored Ferdie's pleas and fought on for four more damaging years.
Let us hope seeing Ali at close quarters will make Ricky realise it would be wise to err on the side of caution.
Ali is attending two functions here in his honour - a dinner at Old Trafford on August 26 and a lunch at Stoke City's Britannia Stadium the following day.
VIPs at both events can be photographed with Ali but it will cost them £1,250 each for the privilege.
The proceeds will go to the Muhammad Ali Center in his home town of Louisville, Kentucky, as well as to children's charities.
Part of Ali's trip has been organised by Mammoth Events and took 12 months to plan.
Managing director Stephen Beverley said: "I had to make four journeys to Louisville and supply references from George Foreman, Sugar Ray Leonard, Larry Holmes, Joe Calzaghe and Hatton before Ali's people agreed for him to come over."
Among Old Trafford guests, besides Manchester United stars like Wayne Rooney, will be former British opponents Richard Dunn and Brian London.
Sir Henry Cooper, one of only three men to put Ali on his backside, will have his reunion at the Alltech European Jumping and Dressage Championships in the grounds of Windsor Castle on August 29.
© 2009 News Group Newspapers Ltd. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited.
Comment