Ricky Hatton MBE - interviewed by James Davies

You’ve already become the unified light welterweight champion of the world amongst winning numerous other titles, and been the first British boxer to win ‘The Ring Magazine Fighter of the year award.’  What’s next for you and do you have any more goals and ambitions?


Yeah I still have goals and ambitions, I mean I’ve achieved most of my goals. You know my next fight in January I go for my fifth world title. In  fact it’s not my fifth I go for my sixth because it’s for the vacant IBO title as well now, so I’ve achieved most of my goals but I think I’d like to top the bill in Vegas which I get that confirmed Monday, which is going to be for my next fight. I’d like to top the bill at Madison Square Garden. I’ve already boxed there but never topped the bill yet, so I’d like to do them two things. I’d like to fight Floyd Mayweather especially with him being reckoned the best pound for pound fighter in the world, and once I’ve done that I’ll nearly hang them up then. I’ve had a lot of fights, forty one fights and I don’t want to go for too much longer, but there are still one or two things I want to do yet.


You’ve said before you were born to box. What advice would you give to other young aspiring boxers who want to become, if possible, the next Ricky Hatton?


Well you’ve just got to put your heart and soul into it. If there’s any little bit, boxing’s a sport you either take to or you don’t. If you do take to it and you'd love it like I’ve loved it, it’s become your life since I was a 10 years old then go for it. But if your hearts not 100% in it, I’d much advice you to take up another profession because it’s the hardest game in the world and your heart needs to be in it 100% if there’s any slight little bit of a doubt I think you’re in the wrong game. It’s a sport you’re either going to take to or not. If you’re going to do it you must give it your best. But if there’s any doubt I’d probably go for another profession because I don’t want to see anyone get hurt and that’s what would happen if your hearts not in it 100%. 


At the tender age of ten you started your boxing at Sale West Amateur Boxing Club. What inspired you to take up the sport and was there anyone who pushed you to become a champion and a British boxing legend?


It’s weird really I did kick boxing first because I used to be into Bruce Lee films and then when I went to kick boxing with me being short and stocky I wasn’t doing particularly well. With my little short legs I wasn’t a very good kicker but I was a good puncher. So basically it just went from the kick boxing coach saying you’d probably make a better boxer cause of your frame. So I went to the boxing club and there were no real influences really so I just really fell into it. Nobody in the family had ever done it. But I loved it so much having your hand raised and sharing the glory on your own.


Sugar Ray Leonard, one of the greats in the world of boxing has said ‘boxing would be a much better sport if there were more Ricky Hattons’. How do you feel when something like that is said about yourself, and how are you able to keep your feet so firmly on the ground?


It’s just like winning a world title in itself when people like that say it. Just the fact they know who you are. But the fact that they can comment on your fights and they’ve seen your fights and stuff like that is unbelievable. A lot of people make comment and say that I always keep my feet on the ground and how down to earth I am. But really I don’t expect a pat on the back for that. I think in a world now where there are so many people up there own backsides so to speak, and so full of themselves, it’s a celebrity orientated era if you like. People find it unique that I’m like I am. But I don’t expect a pat on the back for it. I think it’s the way everybody should be. I’ve got good people around me. My mates have been the same mates since day one. And it’s just the way I am really. If I could win my world titles and make my living without no one knowing me I’d much rather have that than have the attention and the crap that comes with it from time to time.


You’ve had many magnificent moments in the ring. What is your proudest moment through your illustrious career so far and why?


I think obviously beating Kostya because it was more than just winning a world title. I mean it was becoming the undisputed champion if you like, the universally recognized number one in your weight division. He was ranked number two at the time for the best pound for pound fighters on the planet in any weight division and considered by many as one of the greatest light welterweights of all time, so I think it’s probably self explanatory how bigger thing it is. So I think that was my biggest achievement. And also shortly after being the first Britain ever to win Ring Fighter of the Year. Some of my heroes like Barry Mc Guigan John Conti and Nigel Benn, people I aspire to, they didn’t even do that so for me to achieve it, you could never ever find the words to describe that.


Your book gives the impression that preparation is a huge part of boxing and a huge attribute to success. Not only do you have to prepare yourself physically, but you have to prepare yourself mentally. How do you prepare yourself for both of these, and which do you find harder?


Mentally it doesn’t take much psyching up to do. It’s the way I earn my living, and I’ve got a son now and every time I step in the ring I feel should I get beat by that opponent he’s taking away a better life for me and my son really. And also you don’t need much psyching up when you see a man, across the ring who’s wanting to punch your head in (laughs) not exactly a text book statement but so it doesn’t really need much to get you in the mental frame of mind. But physically you need a lot of will power. I like to unwind a lot with the drink, and spend time with my friends and family, and I like my food and a few pints and a few drinks along the way (laughs) so its probably more important I have strong will power. When most people give themselves a two month training camp, I give myself a three month training camp so I cut no corners, and do it correctly. In order to do that you have to have very, very strong will power to give up the things you love.


So would you say you’re a hard worker in the gym?


A very hard worker. There are no corners cut. When I step in the ring I know there is nothing I could have done any better and that’s the way you have to be in boxing. If you think you’ve cheated yourself or you’ve rushed it or you’ve not quite prepared like you should do, that could be the difference between winning and losing.


Finally, you’ve said that at times you’ve got totally fed up with the sport. What is it that still drives you on, and do you get nervous when performing in front of twenty odd thousand? 


The sport got me down through a period because people were saying I was avoiding people and didn’t want the big matches and I was scared of top contenders and I knew it wasn’t true. And my promoter at the time, although he did very well for me in the early days I reached a point in my career where I needed to move on and I didn’t feel I was moving on. But now, this fight in January I’m going for my fourth different world title in consecutive fights. I’ve moved up in weight divisions, topped the bill in Boston, I’m topping the bill in Las Vegas. I’m sort of living all my dreams now. But I turned pro quite young at eighteen. I’ve had forty-one fights. Some of my heroes haven’t had forty-one fights in their whole career, so I think it’s time to get a move on now and that’s what I’m doing. I’ve achieved most of my goals but the final goals and the last few things I want to achieve I’m doing now.