Brutal defeat may bring an end to Ricky Hatton’s career

Ricky Hatton’s late-night trip to the Valley Medical Centre, accompanied by Jennifer, his fiancée, Paul Speak, his agent, and Oscar De La Hoya, his promoter, was just a precaution, but it was a fitting reminder, should the British boxer need one, of the dangers associated with his sport. Over the coming weeks, Hatton, 30, will have time to consider what the future holds for him and many will urge him to retire. It is a sport for the young and hungry, not rich, ageing boxers chasing an unreachable dream. 

The second-round finish at the fists of Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena had been both brilliant and frightening. For what seemed an age, Hatton did not move. He was turned into the recovery position, his face groggy when he began to come round. Within two minutes, he was sitting on a stool and soon after he was back on his feet. “It was a hard loss, but I’m OK,” Hatton, who spent nearly two hours in hospital and had a CT scan, said. “I really didn’t see the punch coming, but it was a great shot. I know I’ll be OK.” 

It is unlikely that Hatton will want the last moment of his career to have been spent lying unconscious on the canvas, but he certainly does not need to keep boxing for financial reasons. Hatton has tens of millions in the bank and a burgeoning promotional business. The only reason not to retire would be that he has attainable goals. 

Among those celebrating Pacquiao’s triumph was the man who has turned the Filipino into the world’s best boxer and exposed flaws in Hatton’s style. “We studied tapes — it’s right in front of you, all you do is watch,” said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, whose prediction of a win for his man inside three rounds had been widely scoffed at. “Every time Hatton throws, he pulls back. A guy like Pacquiao can deliver a short hook inside. 

“He never saw it coming. He was caught by the same punch over and over again because he couldn’t make the adjustment — he’s been doing it for 50 fights and nobody has taught him not to do it. It has taken Manny eight years with me to get to this point. What can Floyd [Mayweather Sr, Hatton's trainer] do in two fights?” 

A bout with Amir Khan, who challenges Andreas Kotelnik for the WBA light-welterweight title on June 27, had been mooted as a possibility in the event of defeat for Hatton, but Roach, who trains Khan, said that he would not want it. Roach was an exciting boxer in the 1980s, but he was too easy to hit and when he was told to retire, he carried on. The Parkinson’s disease he struggles with today is a legacy of that decision. 

While Roach has improved Khan, he is not sure he could improve Hatton. “At this point, he’s probably stuck in his ways,” Roach said. “I hope he retires because it’s a hard game and he has achieved greatness. Why go on? 

“I know Amir has the right style to beat Ricky Hatton, but I don’t want to see that fight happen. I like Ricky. It would be good for my kid, but I don’t want to see anyone get hurt. Knockouts like that are not good for people, so he should consider retirement. It’s easy for me to say, but I’ve been there and I didn’t quit. Maybe I should have.” 

It was the same ring where, 17 months earlier, Hatton had been knocked out by Floyd Mayweather Jr and Hatton harboured ambitions of a rematch. As time had gone on, the sense of injustice about that defeat had grown. He blamed Joe Cortez, the referee, for not allowing him to work up close, he blamed himself for losing his cool and there was plenty of blame for Billy Graham, his former trainer. 

This time, there could be no excuses — the defeat was absolute. With Mayweather having announced that he is coming out of retirement, there was another big bout down the line, but not for Hatton. Pacquiao-Mayweather is the contest on everyone’s lips. Hatton’s dream of becoming the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter is over. 

There had been rumours of a bust-up in the Hatton camp and Mayweather Sr seemed quick to wash his hands of his man’s performance. “He got beat because he didn’t do what I told him to do, he didn’t keep his hands up,” he said. “I told him not to fight aggressively from the start, I can’t fight the fight for him. He made a good mark in the game, but you can’t keep taking the punches. If he asked me, I’d tell him to retire.” 

But the decision is best left for a time in the future, when he can get some perspective. “Our only focus is Ricky’s health. We’re in a very fortunate position in terms of the money he’s accumulated and the stuff he’s got going on outside the ring. Whatever decision he makes, he’s never going to have a situation where he has to fight to pay his mortgage.” Gareth Williams, the chief executive of Hatton Promotions, said.