SALFORD trainer Billy Graham insists that he has been sacked by Manchester star Ricky Hatton.

Graham, aged 53, retired from the sport on Friday. And, contrary to the Hatton camp’s version of events, he claims to have announced his retirement on the back of being told that his days as the Hitman’s chief cornerman were numbered.

Graham says that Hatton told him that in a meeting last Monday.

He admits that the meeting was ‘a huge blow’ but he has nothing but good wishes for Hatton following a highly successful 11-year partnership.

Graham said: "I was sacked. But if Ricky wants to finish with me that’s entirely up to him. As a result I have decided it is a good time to retire.

"I’m not going to get into a slanging match with Ricky because we’ve been through too much together.

"I always said I would retire when Ricky finished and I had hoped to stick it out right to the end.

"We’ve spent half our lives together and we’ve changed each other’s lives.

"It’s a fantastic story and I’m not going to ruin it by bad-mouthing him. And I wish him all the best for his next fight."

Talk of a Hatton-Graham split first started in the aftermath of the Hitman losing his unbeaten professional record to American Floyd Mayweather in December.

Hatton will have his first fight without Graham in his corner when he takes on another American, Paulie Malignaggi, in a world title fight in Las Vegas on Saturday, November 22. And Graham is planning to be among the crowd.

"It’s not over between me and Ricky just because I’m not training him any more," Graham said.

"I’ll be there urging him on – I just won’t be in his corner."

Graham identified Hatton’s infamous victory over legendary world champion Kostya Tszyu in Manchester three years ago as the highlight of his career.

He said: "I told Ricky when he was 17 that he was going to become the undisputed world champion. When we achieved that it was surreal and everything flashed before my mind. That was the highlight as we achieved what we had set out to do.

"But I’ve had so many highlights – too many to mention. I’ve been doing it for 19 years and worked with some great boxers. But it’s been non-stop and now it’s time for a rest.

"I will miss boxing – there is no doubt about it. But I will miss the fighters and the boxing and not everything else that goes with it."