http://www.***********.com/?m=show&id=24501 Joe Gallagher closed out a successful 2009 in style and the trainer now believes that 2010 could be a bumper year for his Denton-based gym. Talks of a Ricky Hatton comeback have led to rumours about Ricky’s coaching set-up, Gallagher believes that he is the man for the job of bringing Ricky back to title contention. “I have people asking me about the possibility of training Ricky Hatton if he comes back, well it just shows what a compliment when people think of me with that job,” beamed Gallagher to ***********.com. Gallagher, however, feels that the Hitman needs to get back to basics to reach the levels he once achieved. “Ricky would have to leave his entourage at the gym door and would have to come in to the gym alone and become a fighter again. He would have to do what all the other fighters do which is come with just their bag work and get amongst it and do the training,” he declared. Gallagher then compared Hatton’s comeback as a similar scenario to Rocky Balboa’s comeback in Rocky III. “Ricky has to be a bit like Rocky in Rocky III, when he went back to basics with Apollo [Editor’s note: The improbably muscled Apollo Creed, played by Carl Weathers, not the Greek sun god.],” explained Gallagher. “He needs to go back to the sweat and tears and Ricky needs a bit of the Rocky Balboa syndrome if he wants to come back. He needs to cut away the ‘blowing bubbles’ and the fanfare and all the merchandising around him and he needs to get around hungry and ambitious fighters and Gallagher’s Gym has a lot of ambitious fighters.” He added: “Ricky is a good fighter and I have known him years but he will know I am looking after three of his prize fighters in my gym, so they must think I am doing a good job and it’s a compliment to be mentioned for the job. Whether I get the job or not is down to Ricky Hatton, his family and the rest at Hatton Promotions, whatever Ricky decides to do in the future I wish him all the luck in the world.” The esteemed trainer feels that if Hatton decides to fight again he has at least one big fight left in him. “I think there is another big fight in Ricky if he gets stuck into his training again,” enthused Gallagher. “I’m not saying he has another pound-for-pound fight as Ricky knows his limitations but the light-welterweight division is opening up again and there is a possibility of another world title.” Gallagher then finished by saying: “Oscar De La Hoya has done a good interview this month for The Ring magazine. He mentioned that when he came back for the Pacquiao fight that he knew in the first sparring session that he didn’t have it anymore but he wanted to keep going thinking it would get better.
Joes a very good trainer, knows Rickys style and strengths- also telling him to leave the circus at the gym door is encouraging.Ricky cant be darting off for sportsmans evenings etc when training, a back to basics approach is really the only way to see if hes still got it.
There is always someone who has to look on the bad side, Betty Swollocks should be popping up any minute now.
Well he certainly wont take no **** off Hatton, If Hatton is serious about making a comeback he needs a no nonsense trainer and Galllagher certainly sounds like he is no nonsence.
Sounds like a good move if Hatton is going to come back. Truthfully i dont think Hatton is a spent force, he has slipped over the past few years but he still has a future at 140.
