Hatton: I should have quit earlier

RICKY HATTON choked back the tears as he finally revealed he is hanging up his gloves — and admitted: "I wish I had done it sooner."

The Hitman ended a self-imposed two-year misery by confirming he will never box again.
Hatton plunged to the depths of depression after he was crushed in two rounds by Manny Pacquiao in May 2009 and was dragged into a drink and drugs shame.



He has spent two years trying to convince himself there was enough left in the tank to carry on.
But at a low-key farewell in London's West End, Hatton said: "It's a decision that I have known for some years but never wanted to admit it.
"The manner of the defeat against Manny was a bitter pill to swallow. I thought I could push myself again in the gym and it would leave me feeling great. But the desire was just not there.
"The alarm was going off for the morning run and and it was too easy to press the snooze button.
"I couldn't get out of bed and I couldn't walk past the chippy. I gave myself as much chance as possible to get back, but it just wasn't happening.
"I knew all of this 12 months ago and I should have announced my retirement then.
"Instead of that I spent all that time sulking about it and getting depressed."
Hatton, 32, ended up in a clinic being treated for depression and says he never realised just how far he had to fall before he could start the long climb back up again.
He added: "The biggest fight I have had was coming out of the clinic in one piece. Going in there was my biggest disappointment.
"I never felt drink was the real problem, of course it wasn't helping. The problem was what was going on inside my head.
"Half the trouble was I was hanging on to something that wasn't there. I'd get in the ring, hit the pads for a couple of rounds but there was nothing left, I knew it was over.
"I should really have moved on then instead of spending too much time dwelling on it. I didn't want to let go and really I got so depressed about it all.
"Everyone knows I like a pint and I had a few. But I really didn't know what I was doing.
"I was going out, having blackouts and getting home and wouldn't know what the hell I was doing or where I had been or who I'd been drinking with.

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Ricky Hatton GP vid at the bottom

 

I remember Mayweather Sr said to him after the Malignaggi fight he'd have to start living clean to stay in the game and he didn't man ( blew up in weight ) .It's a good article I think . Just show's you you've got to live clean for boxing .