Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton announces ring return
By: Ryan McHugh
Manchester’s favourite son Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton announced his ring return to the world in a press conference on Friday morning. The rumour mill has been going in to overdrive ever since the boxing world got a sniff of a possible Hitman comeback a few months ago and when a press conference for Friday was announced at the beginning of the week, it was a foregone conclusion the reasoning behind it.
After a week of opinion and gossip flying around like wildfire, the announcement was made, Ricky Hatton would be returning to the ring on November 24th at the Manchester Arena! The fight is set to be his first in the ring since he was brutally and systematically taken out by Manny Pacquiao back in May of 2009 in Las Vegas.
The fight has its critics, many believing that Hatton has no reason to get back in the ring, questioning whether he has what it takes anymore. That is yet to be seen and the answer will arrive on the night of November 24th. Hatton’s loyal army of fans have stood up and made themselves counted though and ticket sales over the first few days have been astronomical, the fight becoming a near sell out within the first three days of sale according to Hatton Promotions’ matchmaker Richard Poxon.
Ricky’s opponent on the night is yet to be named, but for many, it’s just another reason to be involved in the hysteria that a Hatton fight brings. Over the past few years Hatton has had well documented problems but those seem to be a thing of the past with The Hitman currently walking around in the best shape he’s been in since he left the ring behind in 2009, part of the reason behind this is his recent transition from promoter to trainer, getting himself in shape for the young fighters he’s taken under his wing.
Hatton stated in the press conference that the return is absolutely not down to financial reasons, but solely because the fire and the hunger in his belly has returned, he was also clear to point out that no fighter wants to go out on a loss and I imagine any other fighter as proud as Ricky would feel exactly the same.
On to a slightly more negative note, some unsettling news broke out over the weekend of a possible rift between Ricky and his dad Ray, reports surfacing that there had been a heated altercation between the two in the car park outside Hatton’s gym in Hyde. Ray was said to have taken a swing at Ricky after a disagreement to the shock of onlookers, and has since been arrested and cautioned.
That isn’t the type of thing Hatton needs in the run up to his big return, let’s hope the two can sort out their differences between now and November 24th so Ricky can have one of his most ardent followers back in his corner.
One name who can be ruled out as Hatton’s next opponent is Brooklyn’s Italian-American fighter Paulie Malinaggi who was rumored to be the name stepping in with the Hitman for his comeback fight. The uncertainty as to whether or not Hatton would indeed make the comeback caused Malinaggi to pursue other options and has now signed to fight Pablo Cesar Cano in October.
The name of the opponent will be released over the coming weeks, stay tuned for more!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m8gnMYD6vs&feature=player_embedded&fb_source=message
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