Ahead of his exhibition fight against Mexican legend, Marco Antonio Barrera, Ricky Hatton has detailed his four stone body transformation.
Hatton’s hometown fans will be treated to another ring walk this weekend as he faces off against Barrera, who had 75 fights and just 7 losses as a professional. The longtime friends will entertain the crowd a decade on from retirement, but that doesn’t mean they’re not taking seriously – especially the MCR fighter.
‘The Hitman’ spoke to The Sun ahead of his return to the ring, going into detail about the huge weight loss he went through.
“When I jumped on the scales at the start of training it was 15st 4lbs. And the weigh-in is this Friday which is made at 11st 7lbs. And I’m 11st 7lbs now. It’s been a long way to come. I’m 44 years of age, and the shape that I’ve got myself in has taken a lot of hard work.”
Hatton spoke of the moment that he realised he had to shift the weight – it came after seeing himself on the television.
“I went in and filmed A Question of Sport three weeks before I started training. I’d been in camp for eight weeks when they told me it was coming on. I flicked it on and went “F***ing hell!’. I was alright mentally and I have been for a while but when I saw the show I emptied my entire wardrobe.
“I’ve got a new wardrobe now, I’m a 30in waist at the minute. I’ve got a few 32s. As soon as the 32s get a bit too tight, I’m not going for the 34s again. If I can’t get the button fastened, I don’t f***ing go out!”
Exhibition or not, it looks like the Manchester legend will keep working out for others’ wellbeing as much as his own.
“But I’m 44 now, I can’t keep dragging some poor f***er out of retirement every time I want to get some weight off!”
“I’ve enjoyed the compliments, people coming up to me with mental health and saying, ‘f***ing hell, Rick, I’ve been struggling with my weight and seeing you shift all that weight has made me want to’.
“Then other people have said, ‘Jesus, Ricky, seeing you a few years ago with all that weight, suicidal, wanting to kill yourself, heavily drinking, heavily into drugs, the way you were, to see you now, it’s been so inspiring’.”
‘The Hitman’ will face off against Barrera this Saturday at the AO Arena in Manchester for what will potentially be his last dance. Fans can tune in via Sky Sports for the event that’s sure to be a celebration of the sport and one of its greatest characters.