Ricky Hatton: The heart and soul behind a boxing wonderland - P25
- Shidonna Raven
- Dec 25, 2025
- 2 min read
By Tris Dixon
This Article has been curated by UDBN
September 25, 2025
Source: Boxing Scene
The Ricky who I spent months with, writing his autobiography, was one in turmoil. The one I later enjoyed my time with was unshackled, freed by his need for help and support, and loved as part of the brotherhood of boxing.
Like so many others, I can say I enjoyed some big nights out with Ricky. In 2014, at the WBC convention in Las Vegas, we were out with Joe Calzaghe and British heavyweight Scott Welch. I remember that night ruined me so much I was bed-bound when I got home in the build-up to Christmas, while looking at Ricky on social media, right as rain. He was making people laugh while holding court at his speaking engagements as I struggled to hold down food, courtesy of one night out with him several days earlier.
Ten years later, the night of Ricky’s induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Ricky messaged me to join him and Marco Antonio Barrera at the Turning Stone Casino. I went along, and soon after there were tables full of bottles and shot glasses. The night descended, as you might expect, and I remember laughing so much my cheeks were sore.
There was a moment where Barrera – who carried Ricky’s belts to the ring for some of his major fights, boxed Ricky in a 2022 exhibition and who flew to Canastota to spend five days with Ricky for his induction – and Hatton went arm in arm to neck shots. Then, as the drink flowed, Ricky saw Barrera’s top button coming undone and he moved in to hug the great Mexican, but instead put his head on Barrera’s chest. Barrera looked at me quizzically, and Hatton proceeded to motorboat (google it, if you need to) in Barrera’s chest, and Barrera burst into laughter.
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