The one they call the Hitman is getting back into the ring for one last hurrah, to massage his ego, to finish on a high or simply because he's completely bonkers and can't stay away (from the fridge).
Ricky Hatton is leaving the public split on whether he should or whether he shouldn't fight again. And i'm in his corner. Firmly in it.
Go on Ricky, have a punch up and finish your career on top of the podium or as near as you can get to it but not flat on your back looking at a Las Vegas casino ceiling.
Finish it in Manchester in front of the hardcore of fans that have followed you back and forth to the Nevada desert over the past few years. Those trips costing thousands in air fares, hotel rooms, bar bills, tips and well erm everything else you can think of.
I've been lucky enough to watch Hatton twice in Vegas. Would I go again to see him fight in a one off against another Mexican just past his prime? Probably not. Would I go to Manchester on a jolly with the lads for a week-end as a send off? Definitely.
Ricky Hatton has his knockers. Right now they are more than likely calling him The Fatman, Ricky Hasbeen, Vicky Fatty and anything else lardy you can think of, because he is living true to his age old nicknames and its not doing him any favours. The past six months he has piled on the pounds even more than his regular inbetween bout excesses and boy does it show.
Chinese food, deep fried anything and shit shirts worn in the local pub with the boys followed by plenty of ale and a game of darts have really taken their toll and hes looking more Ricky 'The Hamster' Hatton than anything else. But the defeat to Pacquiao in Vegas last year obviously hit him hard emotionally and the larder has been his therapist, so for once lets give him a break and remember how good he is. Let's not be stereotypically British and knock another slightly fallen sport star from pilar to post. he's a big boy and knows what he's doing.
But, and there is a big but lurking in the shadow. Ricky is fat, really fat. Fatter than normal. He has admitted to being over a stone heavier than his usual famous ballooning state. Right now he is weighing in at nearly three stone heavier than on the scales before his last fight against Pound for Pound champion, Manny Pacquio.
He says this will just mean a bit longer on the road followed by the same time in the gym. But has he turned into Marmite and have the public got bored of the loveable Guinness drinking joker who has time for everyone and anyone? Has the ego of the Hitman overtaken the love of his once adoring fans asking him to stop?
The most famous voice in combat sport, Michael Buffer, calls him the pride of Manchester. Floyd Mayweather says he has the most annoying song in World sport. Oscar De la Hoya says Vegas had never seen anything like it every time the Hitman's circus rolled into town. So why carry on? Whats wrong with thoe memories and adulation spared for so few.
It's only his pride and wanting to finish on the up. If he can sell out the MEN and 20,000 get to see him fight for a hidden world title in the Summer then why not?
Why knock him. If you don't want to see him then don't watch. Simple.
Is Ricky turning into the one we used to love to love and nothing more than a joke? There is an argument that if he comes back and is seeing stars inside a few rounds then all the knockers would say I told you so and all the believers out there turn against him.
But he is a grown man and hes not fighting for the money. He feels he has something to prove after a disastrous training camp where he said walking to the ring felt like a corpse with gloves on. He has lost just twice and each time to the best of the best, not just in his weight but in his sport. He feels he is among equals in the highest echelons and, rightly or wrongly, still thinks he would win one of those super fights against Mayweather or the man best known as 'Pacman.'
Love him or beginning to loathe him for coming back, it looks like he will fight again. This time with a few more layers than normal taken off.
A few days ago he admitted to having the hunger back, and not a midnight Doner Kebab sort of hunger. He says he wants to go out on a high and i'll be there behind him singing there's only one Ricky Hatton at the top of my lungs. Good luck and do us all a favour Ricky, get in shape, proper shape. Get in the right frame of mind, get in get out and call it a day. Fight a man on a level, fight a name. Fight a fight you know you can't lose, not think you can't and then have a pint with every fan from all over the world because by then you will truly deserve it.
We'd much rather the flawed diamond than a perfect pebble and you can be the flawed diamond any day of the week, even if it means being a bit too imperfect for some people's taste.
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