Ricky Hatton: Splashes £80k on copy of waxwork

Ricky Hatton boxer was so knocked out by a lifesize waxwork of himself that he has ordered a replica.
He needed to take it home when he unveiled it.
Now the Hitman, 31, has paid £80,000 for a copy of the model on show at the Louis Tussaud's Waxworks in Blackpool. The attraction's general manager, Matthew Titherington, said: "I think Ricky likes it so much because he's in his fighting gear and in his fighting prime.

"When he unveiled it, he was bowled over. He wants to put it in his games room although his manager suggested he put it outside his front door to scare people off."
The original waxwork cost about £100,000 and took six months to make. But the replica will take half the time and will be cheaper because the mould is reusable. It will still be painstaking work - 30,000 hairs will have to be inserted into the head alone - and should be finished by spring.
At the unveiling former world champion Hatton said: "To have a waxwork at Tussaud's is a massive compliment.
"I'm surrounded by stars of the sporting world so this is great. When they asked me to be a waxwork I couldn't say no. It's an honour to be a part of it."

Place on Hatton's bill, Blackwell earns

TROWBRIDGE professional boxer Nick ‘Bang Bang’ Blackwell has been selected to fight on a Ricky Hatton Promotions show to be held on Sunday, October 4 at the Marriot Hotel in Bristol.
The 18 year old, who opponent is yet to be compulsive, who trains under Mark Kent at the Compitition Gym in Trowbridge, has been sparring with Masters and Western Area Champion Danny Butler, who is in training for an English Title shot against Darren McDermott on the 25th September in Manchester.
“Now and again someone special comes along and Nick Blackwell is the one,” said Kent.
“I have no uncertainty in my mind that this lad will take a British Title in two years and then his sights will be set on a world title.”
Blackwell, and fellow local pro Liam Richards, will be in action at Trowbridge Civic Hall on Friday, September 11. Bradford’s Gareth Heard will also be debuting.

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 - Ranking and Stats

Ricky Hatton bounced back from a stoppage defeat to pound4pound king Floyd Mayweather jnr last December with a clear but tough unanimous points win over Juan Lazcano. In beating the Mexican warrior in front of 56,000 hometown fans Hatton proved he is still a p4p top 10 fighter but maybe a fighter in decline. Nevertheless we will find out exactly what the ’Hitman’ has left when he faces IBF junior-welterweight champ Paulie Malignaggi in Las Vegas on November 22.