British boxing legend Ricky Hatton has opened up about the one fight that got away - a dream homecoming at Manchester's Etihad Stadium that never materialised before his retirement.
The Fight That Haunts The Hitman
In an emotional reflection on his storied career, the 45-year-old Manchester icon revealed how close he came to securing what would have been the crowning moment of his boxing journey. "That's the only regret I've got," Hatton confessed, his voice tinged with nostalgia for the showdown that never was.
Manchester's Fighting Son
The former two-weight world champion, who packed out the City of Manchester Stadium with 55,000 roaring fans for his fight against Juan Lazcano in 2008, believes his hometown deserved one final spectacular send-off. "To have had one last hurrah at the Etihad would have been the icing on the cake," Hatton revealed, acknowledging the special relationship he shares with Manchester fight fans.
Pacquiao Nightmares and Vegas Heartbreak
Hatton didn't shy away from discussing the most painful chapter of his career - that devastating second-round knockout against Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas. "I can't watch the Pacquiao fight back," he admitted, describing the 2009 bout as "like a car crash" that still affects him today.
The brutal loss sent him into a downward spiral of depression and drinking that nearly cost him everything. "I was in a real bad way," Hatton recalled, his honesty highlighting the mental health struggles many athletes face after career-defining defeats.
Redemption and Legacy
Now happily retired and watching his son Campbell follow in his boxing footsteps, Hatton has found peace with his career's dramatic arc. From selling out stadiums to battling personal demons, the Hitman's journey serves as both cautionary tale and inspiration.
While the Etihad dream fight remains in the realm of what might have been, Hatton's legacy as one of Britain's most beloved fighters is firmly cemented. His story continues to resonate with boxing fans across Manchester and beyond, proving that sometimes the fights outside the ring define a champion just as much as those within it.
