MCFCforum talks to Ricky Hatton

You name it, Ricky Hatton has won it; WBU, WBA Light Welterweight Champion and WBC, WBA, WBO Inter-Continental Light Welterweight Champion – not to mention the two-time IBF and IBO light Welterweight Champion – and today we at MCFCforum are proud to speak to him exclusively. 

NB: This interview was conducted last season, and we are re-posting several interviews that are currently not available to read on site.

MCFCforum.com: Welcome Ricky, and thank you for taking the time to talk to us, we know your time is very limited, and so, without much further ado, let’s get straight on with the first of ten quick-fire questions. What is your earliest memory of being a City fan?
Ricky Hatton: Going to the derby with my Uncle Ged; I was about 10, and city won 5-1

MCFCforum: Who are your favourite City players, pasts and present?
Ricky Hatton: Past: Colin Bell, and, Present: Carlos Tevez

MCFCforum.com: Which players would you like to see us sign this summer? And if we improve the squad, how well can we do next season, in your opinion?
Ricky Hatton: Torres for one, and with the right players I think we could be in the Champions League

MCFCforum.com: Which is your favourite City goal, and favourite City match of all time?
Ricky Hatton: Ian Bishop’s header in the 5-1 derby of 1989

MCFCforum.com: What would you say has been your best win so far in your professional career? And what has been your biggest disappoinment or regret?
Ricky Hatton: My best win without doubt was against Kostya Tszyu. My biggest disapointment was not becoming the number one pound-for-pound fighter in my fights with Pacquiao and Mayweather

MCFCforum.com: How is it that even after becoming World Champion, and earning vast amounts of money, that you have managed to keep your feet very firmly planted on the ground?
Ricky Hatton: I have a good family and good friends around me.

MCFCforum.com: I understand that Roberto Duran was one of your main boxing heroes, what qualities made his style of fighting so appealing to yourself?
Ricky Hatton: I liked the fact that Duran was an exciting fighter who fought everybody from lightweight through to super middleweight; he was a people’s champion.

MCFCforum.com: You are already fast establishing yourself as a successful promoter, are their any fighters at your gym who we should keep an eye out for?
Ricky Hatton: Yes, I have some good champions and some great prospects coming though; look out for Scott Quigg from Bury – super bantamweight; Martin Murray from Saint Helens – middleweight; and the massive 6’ 8” heavyweight from Sheffield, Richard Towers. They are all unbeaten and potential champions.

MCFCforum.com: Living or dead, You may invite five people to a dinner party; who would you invite and why?
Ricky Hatton: Ozzy Osbourne, Muhammad Ali, Roberto Duran, George Best and Jack Nicholson, because they would have some great stories, and I’m sure we would have a laugh.

MCFCforum.com: And finally Ricky, rumour has it that you were interested in appearing in a reality TV show, and it has previously been mooted in the tabloids that you might appear on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. Of course top boxers are not unfamiliar with this as your previous opponent Floyd Mayweather Jr appeared in Dancing With The Stars in the USA, and Joe Calzaghe appeared in the last series of Strictly, so is their any truth in this rumour?
Ricky Hatton: I dont recall ever saying that I would like to be on Strictly Come Dancing; I have been offered it and turned it down in the past.

We would like to thank Ricky for taking the time out of his extremely busy schedule to talk to us today, and we here at MCFCforum.com wish him all the best for the future. We would also like to thank bluemooner_mcfc for setting this up for us.