Ricky Hatton: The heart and soul behind a boxing wonderland - P4
- Shidonna Raven
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
By Tris Dixon
This Article has been curated by UDBN
September 25, 2025
Source: Boxing Scene
The early years went by rapidly. Ricky was often in camp and active.
He was boxing regularly but, even then, the pair shared experiences they should have laughed about into old age.
“Me and Billy used to say, ‘We’re gonna beat the best, and we’re gonna beat the best in the weight division’ and I think everyone used to think we were talking through our arses, to be honest with you,” Ricky smiled, seemingly content, long into retirement.
Whether it was the unpaid tab at the German hotel that saw them do a runner in the morning before the staff clocked-on for their shift, or causing a stir at Detroit’s famous Kronk Gym, they made memories.
When they arrived at Emanuel Steward’s school of the hardest knocks, they were amazed at how hot it was; with heaters cranked all the way up.
“Traditionally, it was a gym that was full of Black gentlemen, so I was like the Milky Bar Kid, pale white, as white as could be, I had a little basin haircut and I was on the bag going, ‘Argh, argh, argh,’ because when I used to punch I used to grunt with every shot,” Ricky recalled.
Before he knew it, Ricky was being mocked, and everyone on the bags was copying him, replicating his noises as they punched.
“I was intimidated, [but] then it was, ‘l’ll show you.’ ‘Get that bodybelt out, Billy. Let’s have a blast ‘ere.’”
The bodybelt was Ricky’s specialty.
Soon, the younger fighter and trainer had an audience with the others leaning against the ropes and moving in to pay much closer attention. The mocking stopped. Hardened pros and contenders gathered round, sensing something special.
“’Come on Ricky, quick bursts,’” urged “The Preacher.”
“Move round quicker, change the angles, finish on the jab when you punch, move your head.’”
With Billy eventually putting the bodybelt away, Ricky was surrounded.
“How are you doing, Ricky?”
“Ricky, is it?”
“How many fights have you had?”
“Respect.”
“Good luck on Saturday night.”
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