Defeated Ricky Hatton calls it a day

On November 25, 2012

Ricky Hatton has announced his retirement from boxing after his defeat to Vyacheslav Senchenko in Manchester on Saturday evening.

Defeated Ricky Hatton calls it a day The 34-year-old former two-weight world champion, who had not fought since 2009, was stopped by Senchenko in the ninth round.

It’s too many hard fights, I’ve burned the candle at both ends, I’ve put my body through the mire in and out of the ring.

Ricky Hatton

“I needed one more fight to see if I had still got it – and I haven’t,” Hatton said afterwards. “I couldn’t have done any better. A fighter knows and I know it isn’t there anymore. I have got to be a man and say it is the end of Ricky Hatton.”

Hatton started well and edged the first round but became more defensive as the fight progressed and was hurt by a body shot to his ribs in the ninth which ultimately ended the bout.

“I got in the best shape I possibly could but if I hadn’t been hit with that body shot I would have just scraped over the line,” Hatton added.

“It’s too many hard fights, I’ve burned the candle at both ends, I’ve put my body through the mire in and out of the ring.”

Hatton had initially announced his retirement from the sport three years ago after being beaten by Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

After suffering personal problems since that decision, Hatton announced he would be returning to boxing earlier this year, hoping that he would make his friends and supporters “proud”.

Next weekend, Andrew Flintoff is scheduled to fight Richard Dawson. The former cricketer is 5/6 to win the bout while Dawson can be backed at 5/6.

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