RICKY HATTON proposed to his fiancee Jennifer Dooley dressed as a pirate with a parrot on his shoulder.
The boxer?s holiday cruise liner turned into a love boat when he asked his long-term girlfriend to marry him.
Hatton, 30, revealed: ?First of all Jennifer started crying when I asked the big question but her tears turned to laughter when she looked at the parrot.?
The Hitman has been going on cruise liners every winter for a decade with the whole Hatton family.
He explained: ?All the family used to go in the same restaurant every night, a party of 12 of us, for our evening meal.
?But I took just Jennifer to the Chinese one night. Typical of my timing, it was a Caribbean night ? a night when everyone was dressed up as pirates for a party later on.
?I had a bandana on, a patch over my eye, a medallion around my neck and a plastic parrot hanging on my shoulder.
?When we finished, I got the ring out and said, ?Jennifer you are making me very happy. I?m really enjoying our time together, you are fantastic with my son and I?d like you to marry me?.
?She cried and blubbed, ?I?ll do you so proud Ricky?.
?When she stopped crying she said, ?Only you could propose with a parrot on your shoulder and make it work?.?
Hatton?s holiday was his last chance of a break before training to face Manny Pacquiao (below) on May 2.
The clash will establish who is the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet. That date is set but Hatton has not picked one for his wedding. He added: ?The wedding will have to wait for when I retire.
?I want it to be a big day for Jennifer.
?Now is not the sensible time to do it.?
