Boxing

RICKY HATTON is the subject of a new Sky documentary.The new film will portray the British boxing hero’s rise from humble beginnings in Manchester to world champion status.
Ricky Hatton will be the subject of a new Sky documentaryCredit: Alamy
It will also explore Hatton’s battle with mental health – illustrating the “depression, addiction and shame” that followed defeats.
Hatton, 48, even attempted suicide as he reached his lowest point, with the behind-the-scenes film, set to air in September, said to be “raw and compelling”.
The Hitman returned to the ring after a ten year absence last November, facing Marco Antonio Barrera in an exhibition bout.
Describing his comeback at the time, Hatton said: “I’ve enjoyed the compliments, people coming up to me with mental health and saying, ‘f***ing hell, Rick, I’ve been struggling with my weight and seeing you shift all that weight has made me want to’.
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“Then other people have said, ‘Jesus, Ricky, seeing you a few years ago with all that weight, suicidal, wanting to kill yourself, heavily drinking, heavily into drugs, the way you were, to see you now, it’s been so inspiring’.
“So I thought it got postponed but it’s not been for nothing. More importantly the second one, 12 November, previously it was on an internet PPV channel, with the cost of living now and spending, the situation that it is.
“I want all fight fans to see my exhibition, me and Marco, unless you could afford a ticket or afford the PPV, otherwise you wouldn’t have f***king seen it.
“Now it’s on Sky Sports, all fight fans will get to see it. Personally I think that was a massive thing, it’s the first training camp I had in 10 years.
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“Now I’ve had two in 10 years. I’ve stayed on top of things, I had a bit of a wind-down. I do 10 rounds sparring, I wouldn’t have been able to in the last time. Now I can.”
Hatton also admitted he would fancy another crack at Floyd Mayweather, having lost to the American in December 2007.
On whether he likes the prospect of an exhibition rematch, Hatton added: “I believe so, Floyd is doing a lot of them. I don’t like to think I’d do it against a YouTuber, he’s the greatest of all time.
“I hope it doesn’t bite me on the a***, I think it won’t. The whole point of these is it’s somebody like Marco. It’s for a lot of people who struggle with mental health, look what you can do.
“I’m sharing the ring with Marco. Not Joe Bloggs. Not to point the finger at YouTubers, if that’s your job, that’s your job. But what the f*** is Floyd doing?
“I’d look at it [if he called me], for the same reason as I’ve said. I’ve been in with Floyd, I thought, ‘Jesus he was good’, to do that again, to share the ring with arguably the greatest of all time, of course I would, I’d look at it. But this my first one.”
Hatton also revealed his joy at still being around to help train son Campbell, as well as being able to be a granddad.
He continued: “I’ve been sparring with Campbell. Which has been brilliant. Very emotional for me. Without boring you, nearly took my life a few years ago.
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“I was in such a bad place. If I had taken my life I wouldn’t have seen Campbell turn pro, or seen my granddaughter, Campbell’s daughter Lyla. I never thought I’d go into a training camp like Campbell, father and son.
“It’s replaced lifting the world title fight, thousands of fans in Vegas. I’ve done some great things in boxing, but that’s up there, it f***ing was, it was so emotional.”
Hatton has been training son CampbellCredit: Rex
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JOSH TAYLOR had to be physically held back by police as he and rival Teo Lopez weighed in for their super-lightweight showdown this weekend.Scots boxer Taylor, 32, will go head-to-head with American Lopez at the iconic Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
Josh Taylor and Teofimo Lopez square up during their pre-fight press conferenceCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Taylor wore his Scotland top for the occasionCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The Prestonpans man will be defending his WBO and The Ring belts in New York, as well as putting his undefeated 19-0 record on the line.
Taylor won his last bout in controversial fashion against Jack Catterall in Glasgow, and after pulling out of the rematch injured he vacated the WBA (Super), WBC and IBF titles he had previously unified when he beat Jose Ramirez in Las Vegas.
Brooklyn-born Lopez, 25, sparked a war of words by claiming he wants to KILL Taylor.
The former lightweight champ rolled out one of the legendary Mike Tyson’s famous phrases, as he boasted: “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.”

But Taylor – decked out in a Scotland away top – fired back: “There you go with Tyson again. Clown. Have you got any phrases of your own?
“As a kid then as a pro you dream of coming to venues like this.
“It’s the mecca of boxing and I’m topping the bill with the Tartan Army over too. It’s brilliant. This clown is in my way and will just be another piece of cannon fodder.”
After press conference, both fighters posed for pictures and it was at that point things turned more sour.
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Taylor had a pop at Lopez only to be forcibly held back by a policeman that stood between the two men.
Lopez initially just stared and smiled, before they both fired some verbal shots at one another.
Taylor could later be seen gesturing to the officer “I’m just talking.”
After a brief lull, things kicked off again and they tried to get into each other’s faces before security quickly stepped in.
The ill feeling was clear, with Taylor determined to put on a show to prove the critics wrong following his dubious win over Catterall last time out.
He said: “There’s genuine dislike. He’s been disrespectful and I’ll make him pay for his words.
“I can’t wait to get in there. Then you’ll see a Josh Taylor win, a KO nice and early too.”
Lopez is also fighting on the back of a below-par performance last time out. In December he won a split decision over Sandor Martin after surviving a second round knockdown.
Taylor, 32, said: “We can both go on previous performances but I believe that’s a lot of s**t. I prepared crap for my last fight and I performed crap.
“I believe he was the same – he took his eye off ball and performed crap. So we have the bit between our teeth.
“He’s up against the king. I know he’s a good fighter and the version who fought Vasyl Lomachenko is a good fighter.
“I’ve prepared diligently and you’ll see the best of me.”
The hot weather in the Big Apple hasn’t materialised with the US capital cloaked in a cloudstorm earlier this week.
Taylor added: “I came over early to get used to the heat but it’s not been hot. Being Scottish I’m used to the cold so I haven’t had to adjust.
“I was out walking in Times Square when the cloudstorm came over. It was quite cool and I got some good photos.”
Looking at Taylor, Lopez, added: “I have a new phrase – aim for death because that’s where life begins. Everyone is scared of death but if I die it’s doing something that means something and lasts forever.
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“That’s what greats are about. That’s something you don’t really know. I’m ready to take over and put a show on for everyone.”
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