Ricky Hatton “has demons” and wants a scheduled fight to find his discipline, Gareth Williams, CEO of Hatton Promotions, has told Telegraph Sport.
Williams also claimed that if Hatton decides to make a comeback, he is stillness the biggest box office draw in the country, outside of a heavyweight unification contest between David Haye and one of the Klitschko brothers.
“The more time I spend with Ricky, the more I think he will fight again. I never thought I’d say this but I think it is safer for him to fight because he needs the discipline. He’s an ‘all or nothing’ guy,” said Williams.
Williams also disclosed that Hatton has been back in training in the gym, and took part in a charity football match last weekend between a celebrity England team and a Rest Of The World XI. “He was training last week as if he was in the first week of training with a fight coming up in three months’ time,” he said.
Hatton has not fought since he was knocked out in two rounds by Manny Pacquiao in a Las Vegas ring 13 months ago.
“If he had a fight in four months’ time, he’d have five per cent body fat and would be in phenomenal shape. He needs a target, he needs focus," Williams said.
“I would never push Ricky to fight, it makes no difference to me personally - I just get on with promoting his company. Boxing is an all or nothing sport, you do not have the benefit of being substituted or bowling slower, as with football or cricket, you cannot even play at a lower level.
"If you are not 100 per cent fit, the consequences can be devastating. Ricky has always said that only he will know if and when he will fight again. I will support whatever decision he makes.
"There are plenty of demons left there after the Manny Pacquiao fight, and in Ricky’s mind, there is unfinished business. He was definitely not prepared correctly for the Pacquiao fight.
“Michael Katsidis would be a perfect fight for him. He’s a big name and it would be a good fight for Ricky, and it would be a good fight in England that would work on Sky Box Office.”
Williams insisted Hatton is still the biggest box office fighter in England.
"I obviously spend a lot of time with him and this last 12 months we have visited America, South Africa, China and Australia. The amount of recognition and attention he gets is phenomenal," he said.
“Whatever happens he has achieved so much. If he never fights again, he will go down as one of the great British fighters, and the good thing is that he does not have to fight again for financial reasons, and not many boxers can say that.”
Williams also claimed that if Hatton decides to make a comeback, he is stillness the biggest box office draw in the country, outside of a heavyweight unification contest between David Haye and one of the Klitschko brothers.
“The more time I spend with Ricky, the more I think he will fight again. I never thought I’d say this but I think it is safer for him to fight because he needs the discipline. He’s an ‘all or nothing’ guy,” said Williams.
Williams also disclosed that Hatton has been back in training in the gym, and took part in a charity football match last weekend between a celebrity England team and a Rest Of The World XI. “He was training last week as if he was in the first week of training with a fight coming up in three months’ time,” he said.
Hatton has not fought since he was knocked out in two rounds by Manny Pacquiao in a Las Vegas ring 13 months ago.
“If he had a fight in four months’ time, he’d have five per cent body fat and would be in phenomenal shape. He needs a target, he needs focus," Williams said.
“I would never push Ricky to fight, it makes no difference to me personally - I just get on with promoting his company. Boxing is an all or nothing sport, you do not have the benefit of being substituted or bowling slower, as with football or cricket, you cannot even play at a lower level.
"If you are not 100 per cent fit, the consequences can be devastating. Ricky has always said that only he will know if and when he will fight again. I will support whatever decision he makes.
"There are plenty of demons left there after the Manny Pacquiao fight, and in Ricky’s mind, there is unfinished business. He was definitely not prepared correctly for the Pacquiao fight.
“Michael Katsidis would be a perfect fight for him. He’s a big name and it would be a good fight for Ricky, and it would be a good fight in England that would work on Sky Box Office.”
Williams insisted Hatton is still the biggest box office fighter in England.
"I obviously spend a lot of time with him and this last 12 months we have visited America, South Africa, China and Australia. The amount of recognition and attention he gets is phenomenal," he said.
“Whatever happens he has achieved so much. If he never fights again, he will go down as one of the great British fighters, and the good thing is that he does not have to fight again for financial reasons, and not many boxers can say that.”
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