Muhammad Ali his wheelchair to meet Ricky Hatton

Muhammad Ali proved he can still float like a butterfly when he visited Ricky Hatton's gym yesterday.Despite being virtually confined to a wheelchair because of Parkinson's Disease, the Greatest affirmed on getting to his feet to meet Hatton at the Hitman's impressive new base in Hyde.Hatton was abashed by Ali's gesture and caressed his hero before showing him around his state-of-the art gym."I think he was going to come in a wheelchair initially," said the former light welterweight king."Then he said: 'I can't have Ricky Hatton meeting me in a wheelchair. I've got to walk in'."That's a boxer through and through. That's a boxer's mentality and that's a champion's mentality.

"Hatton, 30, presented Ali with a cake iced on top with the initials 'GOAT', which position for 'Greatest Of All Time', once they were inside his gym.It was his way of paying tribute to someone he cares as not just the wonderful fighter of all time, but one of the greatest people of all time.Hatton was blown away by meeting Ali and posed for footage outside his gym with the three time former world heavyweight champ."This is certainly sensational," said the Mancunian."I've been advantageous to meet some of the greatest stars of boxing during my career, but I'd never had the chance to meet the greatest of all."He's not just the greatest boxer of all time, he's one of the greatest men of all time."Even youngsters know Muhammad Ali. And I think his price of the gab has made the entertainment side of boxing what it is today."The 67-year old ring story was greeted by chants of "Ali, Ali" when he appeared at Hatton's gym and he is touring the British Isles to raise funds for his charity foundation, the Muhammad Ali Centre, in his home town of Louisville, Kentucky.Last night he was appearing at a £1,000-a-plate dinner in his honour at Old Trafford, frequented by some Manchester United players.And Ali has other fundraising events lined up, including one at Stoke's Britannia Stadium during what is wonted to be his final visit to Britain. He is also due to meet old opponant Sir Henry Cooper in the unlikely surroundings of Windsor Castle at the Alltech FEI European Jumping & Dressage Championships 2009. He then flies to Ireland next week.

Ricky Hatton after first defeat £20m profit is consolation

Boxer has invested £200,000 into each of four new ventures By Simon Binns. A company owned by boxer Ricky Hatton standed up a pre tax benefit of almost £20m in 2008, accepting “The Hitman” to plough working capital into different of his other business ventures. Punch Promotions Ltd promotes and organize sporting activities, especially bouts featuring Hatton, such as his holocene high profile championship fights against Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Manny Pacquiao. Hatton lost both fights and may now depart to dressed ore on promoting other boxers, but newly filed accounts show that his company recorded a pre tax profit of £19.8m in the year to November 30, 2008, up from £3.7m the previous year. In June, Hatton opened his own Hatton Health & accordance Gym in Hyde and is better to expand it into a chain. Manchester City Council has approached the boxer about potential sites in east Manchester. Punch Promotions ticker £200,000 each into branded leisurewear business Hatton Independent Trading Ltd, Hatton Promotions Ltd, Hatton Health & Fitness Ltd and Punch Developments Ltd. In January 2009, Hatton also set up Hatton Boxing Ltd and Hatton Nutrition Ltd as he looks to accrue his business empire once he depart from the ring. Hatton's lawyer, Gareth Williams, has left George Davies LLP in Manchester to work for the boxer and his family full time and attend to on building the Hatton brand. In the director's report that accompanies the accounts, David Evans, an auditor and tax adviser, writes: “The earning ability of the company has been dependant on Mr R J Hatton's accomplishment in the boxing ring. Whilst operations will continue within the company, the directors are of the opinion it will be subject to reduced income in future years. “The company has invested working capital of £200,000 into each of its four accessary companies, of which three acceded trading in December 2008. It is await all of its subsidiaries will contribute to the holding company's future earnings. The abbreviated accounts do not show turn over for the year, although Hatton was connected in three title fights during the financial year. On December 8, 2007 Hatton abided his first ever professional conquest to Mayweather Jr in Las Vegas, although the Hyde boxer achieved a reported £5m purse from the bout, his occupation best at the time. Hatton made his comeback on May 24, 2008, beating Mexican Juan Lazcano at the City of Manchester Stadium to retain The Ring Magazine and IBO light welterweight titles, acquireing a total of £6m in television fees and ticket sales. Hatton then conquested Paulie Malignaggi at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on 22 November, earning him another £1.2m. His fight against Manny Pacqiuao in Las Vegas in May, which ended in defeat, pushed his career earnings through the £40m barrier. Cash in the bank at Punch Promotions totalled £22m, up from £10m the previous year. The three directors, Hatton, his father Ray and Evans, were paid a total of £3.1m by the company, up from £530,000 the previous year.

Ricky Hatton would want to fight Amir Khan

• Hatton says bout would be 'a possibility' if he makes comeback

• Clash would be richest contest in domestic boxing history

Ricky Hatton has given the apparent indication yet that he would be willing to fight Amir Khan as long as he is able to aggrandise the bout himself. Hatton has been focusing on promoting since his second-round knock out debacle against Manny Pacquiao at Las Vegas' MGM Grand in May. Many thought the defeat would spell the end of Hatton's occupation, and the 30-year old is yet to confirm whether he intends to fight on.
But retirement seemed to be the furthest thing from Hatton's mind as he talked up the possibility of combining his new line of work with a repartee against Khan, the WBA light-welterweight champion, in a fight that would potentially be the richest contest in domestic boxing history.
"If I do decide to make a comeback and he (Khan) is still world champion, then obviously being a light-welterweight it is a possibility" Hatton said. "But with the greatest of respect, it would only be if I promoted it. But, yeah, if I elect to fight again and he's still up there which I certainly hope he is, as a personal friend – then it's a possibility."
Doubts remain over the eagerness of Khan, who on Saturday reaffirmed his desire to fight in the US as soon as possible. But even if a 'Battle of Britain' does not materialise, Hatton feels he peaceful has something to offer as a fighter.
"I'm not making any decision. One day I might just wake up in the morning and think, 'let's give it another go'," said Hatton, who formed Hatton Promotions in January. "At the moment I'm busy with the promoting, enjoying what I'm doing working with all these former champions and prospects I've got coming up. But us boxers it doesn't take us long to get itchy feet again."
Hatton admitted that his work with the boxers fighting as part of the Hatton Promotions show at the Manchester Velodrome next week had made him think about his own position. One name on the card is Michael Brodie, who returns to the ring after a four year dearth and whose aspiration to get back to the top Hatton can empathise with.
"I find myself in a similar position to Mike Brodie in many respects. He's had a break from it, recharged his batteries and now he's hungry as ever wanting to come and get back into the action," Hatton said. "I'm having a rest. It's a hard game, boxing. You're up every morning running every day, you train in the afternoon, you're dieting, you're up and down in weight and it can wear you down. I'm recharging the batteries and once I've done that I can sit down and like Michael Brodie's done, come back with the bit between my teeth."
Joining Brodie at the circumstance, billed 'The Boys are Back in Town', are the former British light welterweight and welterweight champion David Barnes, former Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Andy Morris and Joe 'Genius' Murray, an Olympian at the Beijing Games who will be looking for his third win with Hatton Promotions.

Ricky Hatton was Boxing's dying

RICKY Hatton has launched on the state of boxing - claiming it risks being overtaken by Ultimate Fighting if it doesn't get its act together.
The Hitman believes boxing is becoming a real turn-off for fans, sick of seeing politics get in the way of big fights.Hatton is furious that his brother, Matthew, saw a high profile clash with former undisputed welterweight champion, Zab Judah, collapse for a second time this week.
Judah made a last minute stipulation for the bout to take place at 10st 3lbs, which effectively ruled out Matthew, who fights at 10st 7lbs.And Hatton, who is now a promoter, it is typical of the state of the sport.
I look at boxing from a different angle because this is a boxing risk not a common game now and it is dying a death compared to the fashionable Ultimate Fighting Challenge," he said.
Matthew was taking all the risks. He was prepared to go out to Las Vegas to fight in Zab Judah's backyard.
"Ricky Hatton was fighting at a level so much higher with against a former undisputed champion than he'd ever fought. He was taking all the chances”