The history of boxing is destined to be punctuated by tales of prize-fighters who just didn’t know when to call it day.
Whether it’s Mohammed Ali – the greatest of them all condemned to the cruel symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease – or Evander Holyfield – still fighting at the age of 47, with every contest set against the backdrop of potential tragedy.
Which is why even Ricky Hatton’s staunchest supporters will be happy if he never sets foot in the ring again.
The only problem for the former two-weight world champion is what happens when a man defined by his profession has to hang up his gloves.
There are those who fear for Hatton’s long-term health if he ever boxes again.
Hatton has at least done the right thing now following the so-disappointing News Of The World sting, admitting he has health problems and needs help.
But the fact is without the regime of two fights a year to curb his party lifestyle, what is to stop him from descending deeper into a life of hedonism?
For all his protestations to the contrary, it is generally accepted that Hatton’s fighting days are through.
An incredible career, which saw him defy the odds to rule the ring and become one of the most popular figures the sport has known, effectively ended with that devastating second-round knockout at the furious fists of Manny Pacquiao.
Even if Hatton didn’t know it at the time, his fairytale journey had reached its final destination.
At least he had the luxury of an estimated £50m fortune to ensure he wasn’t bound to the sport for financial reasons.
Unfortunately, in boxing, it isn’t so much the money, rather the instinct that compels you to fight on.
When your very essence is defined by your physical prowess, how can you ever accept it’s time to call it a day?
Void
More to the point, how do you fill the void?
That is the situation that Hatton has found himself in – aged 31 with nothing more to prove, but also the grudging acceptance that he can no longer achieve the one thing he wanted more than anything else.
Two attempts to earn the recognition as the greatest fighter on the planet, ended with the only two defeats of his career.
But tragically, when he looks back over his record, you suspect it is the bouts with Floyd Mayweather and Pacquiao that will stand out in his mind, rather than Kostya Tszyu or Luis Collazo.
It is those demons that have made him toy with the idea of a comeback, even if it is now more than a year since he was last in the ring and his lifestyle makes it highly unlikely that he would ever be able to get back into fighting shape, even if he wanted to.
But if the sad pictures published yesterday established one thing, it’s that he must now come to terms with the fact that his time in the ring is up.
Criticised throughout his career for ballooning in weight in-between fights, pictures of him allegedly snorting cocaine goes a step beyond the bubbly party man who charmed the world of boxing.
Hatton’s love of takeaways and Guinness were all part of the magic that made him so beloved.
But far from cheeky or fun, pictures of him allegedly snorting cocaine will only heighten fears that he is careering out of control.
His spokesman, Max Clifford, described him as distraught and devastated by the allegations, adding that he is in a “bad way mentally and been in a bad place for some considerable time”.
Friends and family have tried to focus him on the next chapter in his life.
A highly successful promotions company has seen him become one of the biggest players in the sport with an ever-expanding stable of fighters and a steady stream of titles.
There’s also his stand-up comedy – again an enjoyable distraction – but it’s never too long before talk turns to a comeback.
Rumours have circulated that he still fancies a clash with WBA light-welterweight champion, Amir Khan, in 2011 – but at this moment in time, no one in good conscience could sanction such a fight.
Golden Boy tried to tempt him into a return against lightweight king, Juan Manuel Marquez, but it’s hard to imagine that ever materialising either.
Hatton had hoped to be back in the ring in May of this year, but after so long out of action found the desire just wasn’t there.
And despite renewing his boxing licence this summer, it seems more like the act of man who just can’t let go, rather than one with any real belief that he’ll ever be able to pull on the gloves again.
Such is the tragedy of the retired boxer that it has made great fodder for Hollywood – be it Raging Bull or the Rocky series. The comparison with Roberto De Niro’s Jake LaMotta are eerie – even down to the stand-up.
For the Hitman, this isn’t the movies, it’s real life. And it is up to him to write his own ending.
Comment: Don't turn fairytale into a tragedy, Ricky
September 13, 2010
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ricky u seriously need 2 get help u r a champ still in my eyes,but it won't be long b4 u r at the bottom of the ladder as far as the public are concerned,and i for one wud not like 2 see u go down that slippery slop u gave me and my m8's fab nights following u around the world watching this down to earth hattersley lad's rise 2 the very top,u lost to 2 of the very best boxers ever 2 lace a pair of gloves up so no great shame in that m8,do yourself and ur family quit talk of ever fighting and get help and rise above these issues as u have done in ur boxing life .... hope u get good support champ ..... take care
Ricky, get help please. Red or blue, it doesn't matter, Manchester loves you. Don't let it end in a tragic way. I met you many times, you treat everyone in the same polite nature. Nothing's ever to much trouble for you to help out a charity, etc. Now help yourself Ricky, do it now.
If only he had stuck to pie bingeing! I just do not understand the attractions of hard drugs.....no matter what the initial buzz is like.
Ricky if you read this it's your mate wayne. Keep your head held high you will come out the other end laughing. You will find out who your friends are now. take care mate. Don't judge him if you don't know him..
Manc Wayne....
Ricky's main crime was in being caught as he is a role model for youngsters who look to guys like Hatton to set an example. The truth is that recreational drug taking is endemic throughout society these days and Hatton is one of many who have succombed to such 'pleasures'. Maybe this will help him to understand how his actions impact onto others. It is not the 'end of the world' for Ricky - these things happen - he needs to keep his head down, make all the right noises (about 'momentary lapses', 'regrettable incident' etc) so that he ensures that future sponsorships and career opportunities outside the ring are not jeapordised.
Try Redundancy after 20 yrs..without the financial cushion ......my heart bleeds Mr H
There's no tragedy here at all although it's typical of the M.E.N to react in this way. A hugely successful, wealthy ex athlete takes a recreational drug while out partying - big deal ! Yes everyone has to mouth the usual platitudes "bad example to children" "letting down his millions of fans" etc but in reality it's fairly normal for a man of his age to behave in this manner.
As a previous poster said this whole "seeking help for his addiction" nonsense is very little to do with a genuine need for rehab and everything to do with his public image and future career possibilities. A few tabloid headlines of the "My Drugs Hell by Ricky Hatton" variety complete with poses of the Hatton family sat together looking concerned should complete Max Clifford's plan to restore Ricky's reputation and in 6 months it'll all be forgotten.
Come on Ricky, you made Manchester proud on many occasions. Do it one more time, this is the biggest fight that you've had. Go on and win it!
Swerve the drugs and all that s**t Ricky,you got a lovely family,son and g/f you don't need all that nonsense!!
You have done Manchester proud and you will always be remebered for that and while you're there see if they can do something about your choice of being a blue!!!
Santiago Street,
Spot on capt..
The lads been an idiot and he has let everyone down - he has let all the kids down and the up and coming young amateurs/pro's cos they will see it as 'normal' as a lot of the crass comments on here suggest. He has let himself down as you are only as good as your last gig and people will remember him for this and not his past glories.
All the statements, quotes, comments appear to be about poor me/poor ricky and that is the classic trait of an addict - it is all about them!
As for the stupid comments that this is 'normal' for a lad of his age etc....Is it? Is it normal for a pro champion boxer to take drugs and not give a toss about the ripple effect on the people aound him? Is it normal for an athlete to cary on like that? Is it normal to destoy your own career?
The only thing I hope now is that he has a look at himself, studies addiction through AA and NA and has truly reached his 'rock bottom', then maybe he can rebuild his life and his soul.
Those who think it is a glamourous harmless drug - where does crack come from? gangland murders? Prostitution misery? deaths and chronic addictions, street folk. It all comes from the same 'consignment' into this country through your 'recreational' demand - you are all partly responsible fo the other effects on society.
Nothing less than clean family life, total abstinence, and continuous campaigning against this horrible drug and alchohol etc will do...Nothing Ricky, so put your gumshield in kid, cos this will be the hadest fight of the lot - Ive done it !
Can you???
Stoney Man - Do you know what mate, I am a 12 step hero to my wife and kids and to the other addicts I help.
I accept that many others on these pages may of been affected and I am not the only one. However, I find your comments in very poor taste because you are just lashing out like a child instead of being able to see that all these people on here that you say have the same experience are not offering any help or commenting at all and all Ricky is getting is the usual back slapping and chin up mate gabage which will not provide a long term soloution or fix anything. All that is happening is people like you with very limited experience and apparent intelligence are making crass comments like 'its normal' etc - well it is not.
so instead of attacking other posters for trying to share their experience, strength and hope and for posting to really try and help Ricky, why don't you try and post something constructive yourself? maybe with just a little intelligence, perhaps something different to the rest of the post of 'chin up' etc.
I was tying to show him that your average man on the street can do it, so with him being a fighter then he should be able to do it too.
Can you??? please crawl back under your rock....................
John Johnstone
While I respect any changes you have made to your life I feel it's a bit rich of you to come on here and plant your flag firmly on the moral high ground.
Nobody knows the exact numbers, but vast swathes of this country's young and middle aged people occasionally indulge in an illegal drug. Most of them no doubt hold down jobs and take care of their family in just the way that a man in the pub downing a few pints does. To blame society's ills and the problems of a tiny minority of drug addicts who can't cope with life on the recreational drug user is ridiculous.
This role model rubbish is laughable. If, for example, a teenage boxing fan who idolised Ricky and trained at a local club is swayed from the straight and narrow on to a path of drug dependency by one article in a tabloid paper then he was probably daft enough to fall into that trap of his own accord sooner or later anyhow.
Your assumption that Ricky needs to rebuild his life and soul is equally risible. You don't know that he has a drug problem. All you know is that he had a small amount of drugs on a night out with friends. If that's "rock bottom" in your opinion then maybe your judgement is clouded by your negative experiences with drugs. Most people have fun the night before and get on with life in the morning.
Santiago
I blame societies ills on the freely readily available access to coke which is determined by the ecreational demand? how is that so had to comprehend? Its illegal fo a reason mate.
Also, the role model 'rubbish' as you put it is a well used world tactic on tackling crime and drugs etc, so perhaps the est of the world and society has got it wrong hey santiago and you and stoney are right, lol.....you are the laughable ones if you believe your own made up blissfully naive values. Role models, opinions and influences ae usually deep rooted, sub-conscious, physcological influences and it is absurd to suggest that every person who reads the article will 'chop up' - I never said that???
I do believe that he does need to rebuild his life, career and even his soul, because if you have a wife and kids and a successful career but you still need to go snorting coke and partying till it makes you a mess, then there is a hole in the soul and some deep rooted problem - but hey, maybe all the experts are wrong hey?
I was shocked to read your stance on this santiago as you normally talk a bit of sense.
John Johnstone,
How do you know Hattons hit rock bottom? because he got caught with a line of luca.Not everybody needs to be stripped down and rebuilt back up. Some kids have already had a good kickin mentally and physically in life and the last thing they need is gettin chopped down evenmore. Works for some, didnt work for me, we are all unique indivduals, no two the same. Im glad you got your stuff together but dont preach to me about it, been there capt.
For the record theres no rocks in M22..
For the record, I think JJ is talking the most sense on all comments on this story and as for stoney: I am just embarassed for you mate, proper chuffin embarassed mate, grow up!