RICKY HATTON seemed at great ease within his new guise as a promoter and offered no hint whatsoever that a return to his original form as a prizefighter was imminent during the press conference to discuss his brother Matthew?s European welterweight title showdown with Gianluca Branco this week.
?I don?t mind having microphones in my face,? he told me regarding the huge media circus that descended on the Sportsman Casino near London?s Marble Arch. ?It?s a lot less painful than having gloves in your face so I?m enjoying promoting at the minute, but it is hard work, it is a tricky game when people pull out and get injured and dates fall through. It?s harder than what you think but it?s a new challenge for me and I once said that once I?ve been a champion, the next best thing is to create one and that?s what I?m enjoying doing.?
The press was told several times not to ask about Ricky?s boxing career during any interviews, but the huge crowd of journalists that surrounded the promoter and dwarfed those around the supposed star attractions, suggested people were hoping for a hint about his fighting future. Recent rumours ? allegedly leaked during a recent stag holiday in Tenerife ? of an impending retirement couldn?t have helped Ricky?s desire to keep this conference purely about the business in hand.
?I?m in the gym and the office five days a week doing everything that needs to be done with Gareth [Williams], Richard Poxon and the rest of the team,? said Ricky. ?I?ve also been in the gym with Bob Shannon doing a bit of coaching and helping the lads so I?m enjoying it. As far as my fighting goes, all in good time, I?ll make the announcement. Until your hear it from the horse?s mouth I think that?s the only time you should take it seriously and not from hearsay in a pub, which is what I?ve been reading lately, which is a bit disappointing, because I think I?ve worked so hard in my career that I want to be the one to announce it.?
Hatton has certainly earned the right to do that and stated that his future goals now revolve around promoting: ?I?ve set the wheels in motion now for my promoting and I became one of the best fighters in the world, certainly in my weight division, and won a world title at two weights and achieved everything beyond my wildest dreams and I wouldn?t go into something if I didn?t think I could be the best at it so the aim is to try and become the best promoter out there.
?I?ve only been going 12 months but I don?t think I?ve made a bad start with the European fights and the British fights, the Commonwealth fights. My brother has fought for the [IBO] world title, I?ve got some prospects coming through and some champions under my belt. I think the next 12 months are going to be dead exciting for me.?
The 31-year-old Hatton is certainly planning a busy period with his after-dinner speeches as well as an appearance in the Soccer Aid charity football match, all taking place, but the only involvement in boxing seems, at the moment, to be purely in promotion. It is a field he is keen to master with the help of some old friends and his own fighting experience.
?All the way through my career I?ve said it?s the fighters who should earn the most money and that?s where we?re at,? he stated. ?I learnt a lot from Golden Boy and Oscar De La Hoya because he?s been there and done that and he has certain values and that?s what I like to take into my promotions.?
So has Oscar been forthcoming with support for Ricky?s latest venture?
?He has given me a little bit,? claims Hatton, ?but mainly from working with him for a certain number of fights and you look and watch how he does things because I knew that was the road I was going down. People have different areas of expertise and mine is boxing and I speak to the boxers and I advise them on their route or their next fight. They see the look in my eyes and because I?ve been there and done it they believe in what I say. It?s nice because I?m a friend to all my fighters. Sometimes promoters are seen as the enemy and I don?t think that should be the case and that?s why I want to be something different.?
Ricky?s respect for his batch of fighters is clear, but the promotion of his brother Matthew, 28, can bear heavy on Hatton when he?s watching his little brother fight.
?It?s terrible and it does my head in,? admits Ricky. ?It sends me off colour and though I?m confident every time, when you see someone you love from the outside and you?re thinking ?you should be doing this or that? and you can?t get in and help them and it works havoc on your nerves.?
Whatever the future holds for Ricky, it seems his heart will continue to be a major part of it.
