Should Ricky Hatton Retire? Trainer and Father Say It Might Be Time

How dominant a boxer is Manny Pacquiao? So dominant that even boxers who can make more than $10 million a fight question whether they should call it a career after stepping into the ring with him. First it was Oscar De La Hoya who announced his retirement after losing to Pacquiao, and now Ricky Hatton may be following in De La Hoya's footsteps.

Hatton's trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr., said after Hatton's second-round knockout loss to Pacquiao Saturday night that he would advise his fighter to hang up the gloves:

"That's boxing," said Mayweather Sr. after Hatton's loss. "I would suggest he retire. At the end of the day it's his decision. ...

"He tried twice. He failed twice. He lost to my son and to lose to someone below that, it's time to leave the ring. He made a good profit. Sometimes you have to go when your prime is still there,"

Mayweather may be right that it's time for Hatton to retire, but he's probably not the most objective observer right now: Reports surfaced in the days leading up to the fight that Hatton had grown weary of working with Mayweather and planned to fire him no matter how the Pacquiao fight turned out. So Mayweather's talk could be something of a preemptive strike against Hatton.

Pacquiao-Hatton Photos

LAS VEGAS - MAY 03: Boxers Ricky Hatton (L) and his brother Matthew Hatton of England host an event at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 3, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ricky Hatton was knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their junior welterweight title fight on May 2. Matthew Hatton won his welterweight fight against Ernesto Zepeda of Mexico on the undercard. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Hatton;Matthew Hatton

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LAS VEGAS - MAY 03: Boxer Ricky Hatton (R) of England greets fans as he hosts an event at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 3, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hatton was knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their junior welterweight title fight on May 2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Hatton

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LAS VEGAS - MAY 03: Boxer Ricky Hatton (R) of England borrows a hat from a fan as he hosts an event at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 3, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hatton was knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their junior welterweight title fight on May 2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Hatton

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LAS VEGAS - MAY 03: Boxer Ricky Hatton (L) of England greets fans as he hosts an event at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 3, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hatton was knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their junior welterweight title fight on May 2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Hatton

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LAS VEGAS - MAY 03: Boxer Ricky Hatton (R) of England poses with fans as he hosts an event at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 3, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hatton was knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their junior welterweight title fight on May 2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Hatton

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LAS VEGAS - MAY 03: Boxer Ricky Hatton of England wears a fan's hat while hosting an event at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 3, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hatton was knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their junior welterweight title fight on May 2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Hatton

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LAS VEGAS - MAY 03: Boxer Ricky Hatton of England hosts an event at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 3, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hatton was knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their junior welterweight title fight on May 2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Hatton

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But Mayweather wasn't the only one talking about retirement late Saturday night. Ricky's father Ray Hatton also acknowledged that Ricky may have fought for the last time:

"At this moment in time he probably has a few mixed feelings about (retirement)," Ray Hatton added.

"It is only Ricky that can make the decision. He is very strong willed and I don't think he would let anyone make that decision for him.

"I know privately what he will be thinking in a few months time but I would not like to say because I would not want to be putting him under undue pressure."

Still, my own feeling is that Ricky Hatton will not retire. In his chat with FanHouse last week, Hatton said this:

"I've earned enough money to retire, but great champions aren't just satisfied with having money to burn. I want to have money to burn and leave a legacy. After I lost to Floyd Mayweather I had enough money to retire but a great fighter wants to come back after defeat and come back even stronger. That's how legacies are built. ... I'm hungry and I'd like to think I have maybe three more fights."

Hatton didn't sound to me like a man who wants to walk away. And the good news is that if he does fight again, he won't have to fight Pacquiao.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

5-03-2009 @ 12:42PM

DM said...

At this point, Floyd Sr. need to shut the F up!
He needs to quit his job because Ricky's gonna fire him anyway.

"He tried twice. He failed twice. He lost to my son and to lose to someone below that"

below?? The guy will never give Manny or Freddie credit. What a sore loser. He is the real "joke" in this whole story. Freddie is getting all the last laughs now.

5-03-2009 @ 2:42PM

runajan said...

you guys ever wondered why mayweather jr. does not wanna train with his dad? because he knows his father is no good...

5-03-2009 @ 1:08PM

musicanman226 said...

i predicted the same result as freddie roach.woulnt last three and i thought might not last one,almost happened.hatton is a club fighter nothing more.he is very lucky he got to where he did in the sport.he will never get another big money fight.time to take the money and get out while he is not exposed any more for the club fighter he is.as far as pacman goes,a true champion with a humble approach and deserves everything he has accomplished in the sport.we love the pacman.one last point.mayweather took on a hell of a fighter for a comeback fight.this one could backfire.

5-03-2009 @ 2:40PM

floyd mayweather sr. should have given his advice before may 2. now, hatton is forever scarred by the "pacman".

5-03-2009 @ 4:00PM

Wellread said...

Who would pay to see a championship fight with Hatton? Even if he wins the next ten. It's over.

5-04-2009 @ 12:20AM

billy said...

typical yankee bs.let george foreman half kill joe frazier its ok.let a british fighter get savaged its a different song.rubbish.
manny is the best pfp fighter.hes not from the usa btw.

5-03-2009 @ 4:46PM

kirk3451 said...

i like ricky for being a nice person that he is even if i'm a true pure-blooded pacfan.. ricky is a nice guy but i think he got the ire of pacman when he professed so many things belittling pacman's achievements like fighting an old ODLH and winning over a not so great champion in Diaz.. i guess the lesson here is not to wake up the beast inside your opponent when there's still enough time for your opponent to methodically craft your destruction.. mayweather sr is the one who pushed hatton over the cliff... if hatton still decides to continue fighting i suggest he hire the best trainer in roach for being honest and straightforward to his wards without any BS talks..

5-04-2009 @ 12:23AM

excellent points.i hope manny beats mayweather.it should be a war.ill take manny over the spoiled yank.

5-03-2009 @ 4:40PM

lilaerodriguez said...

Pacquiao is not only a true champ. he is humble and rspectful so is his trainer they don't brag they take action. Sorry mayweather you need to search for another hobby!

5-03-2009 @ 4:47PM

Sugar Bear said...

Listen I give pacman a lot of credit as well as freddie Roach, but lets face it Pacman has only fought fighters who have given up the weight to come down an fight him. In Hatton's case he should have never had Floyd Sr in his corner. When you chase a dream that is your past you need to leave it there. He tried to make Hatton into his son Floyd jr. Floyd Jr will not be as easy to handle, and pacman fun and reign will be cut short. Oscar came do in weight to fight Pacman and it cost him the fight. Floyd will not make the same mistake and pacman will have to meet him half way and he will find that he really is not the great of a fighter. If you stand in front of any man that can punch eventually you will be knocked out. Floyd Jr is not that kind of fighter and you need to think again if you believe that. Hatton was over rated and pacman has never been in there with someone like Floyd Jr. Fans beware!!! Never bet agaisnt a truely great fighter.

5-03-2009 @ 5:27PM

JC said...

Sugar Bear, your comments are obviously one of ignorance. If a fighter cannot beat someone at equivalent weight, then that is just what it is. With all things being equal and making it completely fair, then pacman will beat Hatton, and not only did he beat him, he destroyed Pacman. It was not even close, so in all likeliness, if Hatton kept his weight, he would probably still be destroyed.

If you followed Pacquiao's career, the fighters he fought were much harder than Hatton. Mayweather Jr, is obviously way better than most fighters, but that doesnt mean Mayweather is the only good fighter. Mayweather chooses his fights and cherry picks. he's a complete coward, he has never fought Mosley or even Marquez and they were there the same time he was. He only fought fighters he knew he would beat so he's not a true fighter. He only preys on the weak.

And another thing. So you're saying no one else is a good fighter because they can't beat Mayweather? That's just stupid logic. You obviously have something against Manny, probably because he's not your same skin colour and you're playing devils advocate. People like him for a reason. He's a devout Catholic, doesn't indulge in life like Mayweather, and takes care in things and shows people respect. Plus he kicks ass. You'd probably want someone with his ethic to work for you instead of someone like Mayweather so stop idolizing ignorance. Mayweather Jr. is not much different from the dad b/c both like to talk crap regardless if they back it up or not.

You'll probably still hate Pacquiao even if he does beat Mayweather, then cheer for someone he hasn't beaten yet.

5-04-2009 @ 12:34AM

floyd is a great fighter.but manny will give floyd all he wants.

5-04-2009 @ 1:18PM

John Butler said...

I laugh when ppl say floyd is a coward...especially when they bring up moseley seeing as though floyd called him out while shane was in his prime but shane dodged him, cotto hadn't beat anybody that earned him a shot at pound for pound and then lost, and margarito same story except multiplied by ten at that point mayweather had already beat enough flawed up and comers, floyd looked for proven fighters and/or the fight with the most money and thats how you play the game now floyd has come back even though he had nothing to prove to clean up the sport...as far as what will happen next lets just wait and see...oh yeah and hatton isn't ready to retire he seems too much like a born fighter too me...there's no way he'll get another big money fight though he's been officially double exposed.

5-05-2009 @ 2:21AM

NOYPI said...

THEN PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS AND HOPE YOUR IDOL GAYWEATHER IS MAN ENOUGH TO FIGHT PACQUIAO AND NOT MAKE EXCUSES NOT TO FIGHT HIM BECAUSE HE KNOWS HE WILL GET A BEATING WORSE THAN HATTON GOT!!!

5-03-2009 @ 5:56PM

GunnelsSundance said...

anyone notice how mayweather sr. wasn't in ring when hatton was being attended to?

5-03-2009 @ 6:49PM

gerry said...

Floyd Sr. sucks. Boxers dont retain that guy. He will blame you except himself.

slyde722 said...

Hatton came in and fought like an oil drum. A heavy bag would have fared better. Heavy bags sway and circle but don't go down in a heap. I didn't think that anyone told Hatton that the middle of the ring during the second round was a good place for a nap, but I don't think that he heeded to that advice. Hatton folded like a house of cards in a hurricane. Maybe the way they train in the UK, napping during the 2nd round is an old tradition. Too bad nobody told him the nap must be shorter than 10 seconds.

5-04-2009 @ 7:08PM

tony pedrigal said...

Hatton must think twice before entering the ring again.I think history repeats itself when Filipino Pancho Villa stopped Wilde in 1923.Floyd joy is a bunch of sh_t! I hope nobody bets a house for Hatton as he predicted a win.He was warned in his vacation on a cruise were he met filipinos on board that ship that you cannot win against the Pacman.Who wants to be the next victim? During the weigh-in The Golden Boy fighters who lost to Pacquiao was paraded again. Marquez,Dela Hoya and now Hatton.And we all witness Hopkins snub Pacquiao when he was greeted by the Pacman.Now i know. Maybe he is the Jinx in that line up. Mosley will be the next victim.Mabuhay Plipino!

5-03-2009 @ 9:03PM

victor said...

After that big loss of the "Hitman" under the tutolage of the self proclaimed best trainer,I wonder if there are takers for Mayweather Sr as a trainer. He should land a job in a circus.

5-03-2009 @ 11:52PM

Ray said...

musicanman226, how clever of you to post your prediction AFTER the fight. I bet you also predicted the Red Sox would come back from a 3-0 deficit against the Yankees in 2004 but you didn't tell anyone until AFTER the Sox had won four straight. I'm sure you predicted the Giants would knock off the undefeated Patriots in the Super Bowl...AFTER it happened.

As for Hatton's retirement decision, he hasn't asked for my opinion so I think I'll let Ricky decide for himself.

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