The 30-year-old fighter, possibly the greatest individual sportsman Manchester has ever produced, is on the cusp of his career as he prepares to face Paulie Malignaggi in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
The breakdown is simple.
Win impressively, and the show is back on the road and heading for the glory and riches of a meeting with the winner of Oscar de la Hoya v Manny Pacquiao a fortnight later.
Lose, or fail to shine, and the writing is on the wall.
There have been worrying signs that the lustre has faded for Hatton, both inside and outside the ring.
Rumours are doing the rounds, both in Manchester and Vegas, that only 2,000 of the 8,000 tickets allocated for British fight fans have been shifted.
That is perhaps more a reflection on hard economic times than on the waning of the Hitman's popularity after his first career defeat by Floyd Mayweather Junior nearly a year ago.
But if the fight takes a financial hit, and Hatton fails to sparkle, the time will have come to call it quits.
Hatton is set up for a bright future - his new gym is under construction in Hyde, he has dipped a toe in the promotional waters, and he has also stepped up his alternative career as a comedian and after-dinner speaker.
Click on the video link to see Hatton's press conference with new trainer Floyd Mayweather Senior.
In his early days, thoughts of money rarely entered his head. The young, milk-bottle white kid pounding the bags in Billy Graham's Salford gym dreamed only of glory and titles, of conquering the US and beating the best.
Those dreams, but for his comeuppance in the ultimate test against an all-time great, have come true.
And with that in mind, it was significant that new trainer Mayweather Senior's pleas for Hatton to give up the booze have fallen on deaf ears.
Hatton refused point-blank, saying that he works to live, not the other way around. When boxing has become a means to an end, rather than the end itself, it is time to give serious thought to packing it up, especially when you are as wealthy and healthy as Hatton.
Former trainer Graham has expressed his concerns that Hatton should maybe call it a day, and the Manchester gyms are full of boxers - who respect Hatton as their hero, admire him as a pro, or love him like a brother - wondering how much is left in the tank.
Hard living takes its toll, and Saturday night will provide the answers to everyone's questions. It was also significant that when the Hatton camp employed Mayweather Senior, it was as much for his status and hard-line stance as for his brilliant abilities as a boxing trainer.
There was talk of Ricky needing "a kick up the backside", of Mayweather's authority being essential to keep him in line.
No-one would be too surprised if Hatton does not shine against Malignaggi, if Mayweather walked away - he has always taken the "my way or the highway" approach, even with his immensely gifted son, with whom he parted company both professionally and emotionally.
Elusive
Given that Malignaggi is now a crossroads fight for Hatton, it could have been easier.
The New Yorker is slick and elusive, as well as tough - as he showed in losing to Miguel Cotto a couple of years ago.
He made the point that Hatton has made a mistake in seeing him as a guinea pig, on whom he can experiment with a new, more conservative style.
Hatton has promised a more measured approach than the all-out, gung-ho flurries of fistic action which marked his rise as an exciting ticket-seller.
It is to be hoped that Mayweather Senior has had enough time to instil new tricks in the old dog, because the ring at the MGM Grand, against a canny operator like Malignaggi, is no place to discover the gaps in his crash course. Both fighter and trainer are shrewd enough to know what can be done, and what can't, in the space of a few weeks.
And it is not as if Hatton does not already have the weapons in his armoury - he just got too used to doing it his way, and often became too neglectful of his innate boxing skills.
When forced to bring them out of the locker, as he did in 12 excellent rounds against Ben Tackie, he can do it.
It is those weapons which Mayweather will have been polishing, and promoting.
The suspicion is that Hatton, a warrior from boots to bonce, will find a way, even if he has to cast off his new, cultured approach part way through the fight and revert to old Hitman ways, taking risks and landing shots.
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A Manchester man with a Manchester attitude to life and work. The article only touches on Ricky Hattons 'human' side. With enough dosh to retire and brush off his detractors i agree with his comments.
Let us not forget - when you step in that ring you are alone. As the great Spike Milligan said "i'd like to thank people for helping me get where i am today, unfortunately i did all by myself" I'm sure all great boxers share that sentiment.
Win or lose in his next fight i admire his style.
Interesting point of view to quote the great Spike Milligan saying "i'd like to thank people for helping me get where i am today, unfortunately i did it all by myself", whether Milligan was indeed great or just a mental case is up for dispute on another forum, what i would like to question is whether Hatton did in fact do it all by himself. I have followed Ricky all the way through, ive spent a huge amount of money to watch him live many times, i do believe though that he was cleverly managed and promoted throughout, he has had a great coach in Billy Graham and he has a conditioner that has been quite simply second to none, who else couldve melted down a Hattersley beer and kebab monster to created a lean fighting machine time after time? As a fellow Manc and City fan, it has been with much reluctance that i feel the need to express any negativity towards Ricky but i do feel he has spoilt his legacy somewhat. He has built a persona of being one of the lads, local boy done good and down to earth but i feel the way he walked out on Warren, sacked and disrespected Billy Graham and moved the majority of his latter fights to the USA, is bourne out of greed and of having an inflated ego. Even when he first burst onto the world scene proper, he continued to thank his fantastic fans at the MEN but repayed them by doubling ticket prices against Kostya Tszyu and staging it at the more lucritive US HBO time of 2am. He then dispensed with Warren who had a hold over the MEN, so he moved the bandwagon once more to Sheffield and has not been seen since on these shores until his last huge financially successful home coming fight, by which time it has to be said and by his own admission many none fight fans were flocking in great numbers just to be part of the party. I do wish him well in his last few fights and onwards into his retirement but for someone who has been built on being a people person i just wish he had been a little more gracious and grateful to the people who got him there.
WanchopeHagiDickov
"i just wish he had been a little more gracious and grateful to the people who got him there."
what sort of muppet are you ?
Ricky Hatton is one of the most gracious people you will ever meet !
And he is extremely grateful to the people who supported him from day one. just because he is no longer with Billy Graham does'nt mean he is not grateful.....
WanchopeHagiDickov
You make some great points in your post.
Most of the lads I speak to, who have followed Hatton for years are equally disillusioned with him, and have stopped supporting him.
Ricky's team even came up with a money making scheme recently where they wanted people to pay £150 to have their name written in tiny writing on his dressing gown!!!! Has Ricky not taken enough money from his fans.
Ricky plays the 'I'm just a normal bloke' card when a fight is coming up and he wants to sell tickets/PPV. The rest of the time he is giving it the big one about his 'celebrity' mates, i.e. "I got a text of David Beckham", "me and Wayne Rooney are mates" "Joey Barton's a nice lad", "i'm a fan of Oasis and they are fans of me".
Ricky Hatton = Frank Bruno for the millenium.
Boxer beat...,
I find it quite comforting that after reading my lengthy and detailed comments, your only issue was to reference my last line, i made points which were constructive and factual, to call me a muppet because you disagree is, i feel, rather childish. As i stated, i have followed Rickys career from the beginning and have had the pleasure of meeting him on several occassions. I agree on a personal level he is the most gracious and cordial man you will meet. I do believe however that the way he dispatched Billy Graham with an attempted smoke screen of retirement and his recent disparaging comments relating to Billys presence in Vegas and in relation to his now apparent tactical ineptitude in comparison to Mayweathers training qualities frankly bitter,disrespectful and yes, ungrateful. I must reiterate that i remain a Hatton fan, i still possess a few signed pieces of memorabilia which i value greatly and many memories of a golden era in Manchester boxing, i just feel he has let himself down a little and i am disapointed that he isnt quite the loyal lad i thought he was, i must say, i am not alone in these views.
Mr Wanchope...i like your perspective. If you have dedicated so much time to watching Ricky your opinions are 'paid for'.
However great sportsmen are born and not made. Yes Ricky has had training, yes he has had good people around him, yes he has learnt the finer points of the boxing art etc..This is part of the learning process. Let me draw an analogy with another Mancunian sporting master...Paul Scholes. Eric Harrison, the one time Utd youth team coach said "what can i teach Paul Scholes about football"
Billy Graham did a fantastic job and brought Ricky to heights he will be eternally grateful for. But let us not forget that what Ricky has as a boxer is within him. All the people that have followed his career and used "freedom of choice" to follow him around the world cannot now turn on him and say "i like him but..." If Ricky is in an east manchester pub he will treat you with respect if you show respect in return. He is self made and has spread the wealth around to those who worked in his stable. All have benefitted and are better off than they were 10 years ago - bar none. This is well known in Manchester circles as i'm sure you are aware. Hopefully Ricky will turn out to be a better comedian than Spike Milligan when his boxing prowess is nullified by time.
PatBlackFlash
Totally agree with you comments about Hatton..
The last few fights that he has had held in America are becoming a bit of a joke. Does he put his celebrity "friends" in a hat, then decide which one can carry his belts ?
How many of the true great fighters have celebrities carrying there belts ?
Can you see Ali having his belts carried into the ring by Marvin Gaye ? me thinks not !
Ricky should stick to boxing and not get dragged into the tacky world of show business. Once he retires, he can act the clown, but for now...stick to fighting like a proper fighter..
George, you make your point well, Ricky is indeed a great talent but no man is an island, he has not done this alone. Everyone involved should be commended, from Ted Peate to Billy Graham. I have indeed spent a lot on Ricky and on the sport of boxing in general, over many years, that wasnt really my main point though, it was only used to re address the balance that i am not totally anti Hatton, not a bit of it, i wouldnt like to be thought of as buying an opinion. I have been a fat fan for over 20 years and i certainly am not throwing it back at Ricky and i dont resent him his success. I just feel he isnt quite the guy he has built himself up to be thats all. PatBlackFlash's comments are more in line with my views and many others i speak to. By the way, if it is Mr Barrett from an earlier golden age of Manchester boxing, i too had the pleasure of meeting him. Happy days!!
WanchopeHagiDickov ,
I have got to say mate, BoxerBeat is right what he said. I have just read your posts and you sound like a muppet, as he stated.
Ricky loves his fans and I am sure he too could set you straight on a few of your comments.
You sound like one of these 'glory hunting' boxeing fans.
I bet you joined the Ricky bandwagon about 2 years ago when the wheels were well in motion.
Give it another 10 years and I am sure you will be moaning about another British boxer who you have apparently followed from day 1.
So well said BoxerBeat
Boxing Tycoon...
Obviously the point of your message is to antagonise rather than contribute to any intelligent debate. You have made absolutely no valid comment which would lead me to believe you have any knowledge on the fight game. I'm sure Ricky could "set me straight", thankfully, i assume as a professional sportsman he has a little more class. Your intention to annoy or provoke a nonsensical comeback is futile my friend, you can "bet" all you like, I'm afraid you would lose your money, i cannot take anyone serious who cannot offer any reasonable argument let alone spell the world boxing, that be as it may i have aired my views and others seem to agree. I remain a Hatton fan as before. i wish him well on saturday night and i will support him in the future.
WanchopeHagiDickov..
Mr Wanchope,
i really enjoy you articles on this forum, you obviously know you boxing history, or you have been a boxer. the people who come on this forum looking for aggro are obviously "muppets" themselves - you talk a lot of sense and enjoy reading you posts.
thank you.
Yes, you might have a point WanchopeHagiDickov,
Maybe I saw you as an easy target there unto which I could release my built up boxing frustrations, but it is a little to easy when you make quotes like....
" I have been a fat fan for over 20 years"
I assume you too can make a typing error?
either that or your sitting at home and not actually following Ricky has led you to become a bit of a balloon.
chow
i am really looking forward to this weekends fight. Paulie Malignaggi is going to be a real threat to Hatton, i think his speed and movement will be Hattons downfall. Whilst Hatton has been changing trainers and acting the fool on his "televison" show, Paulie Malignaggi has been training like never before. He is in a comfortable enviroment with the people around him that he trusts. Whereas Hatton has binned of the trainer who made him what he is, and has employed a "comedy" act who likes being in front of the TV cameras spouting off waffle, rather than being in the gym.
I think the Hitman will be on the next series of Strictly Come Dancing, cause i cant see him beating Paulie Malignaggi !!