Ricky Hatton Talks About the Brutal Manny Pacquiao Training Camp

The Nightmare Before the Fight

Former professional boxer Ricky Hatton has revealed the difficulties he faced during his training camp leading up to his knockout loss to Manny Pacquiao in 2009. Hatton, who had recently parted with his long-time coach Billy Graham, decided to hire Floyd Mayweather Sr to train him for the fight against Pacquiao.

Training to the Ground

Hatton believes that Mayweather Sr pushed him too hard during training, draining both his physical and mental strength. He recalls feeling fantastic eight weeks before the fight, but the continuous intense drilling and sparring sessions left him exhausted and was already affecting his mindset.

A Knockdown in Sparring

Just weeks before the fight, Hatton was floored by one of his sparring partners. This served as a wake-up call for the British boxer, making him question the training methods and his preparation for the upcoming bout.

A Disadvantage in the Gym

Upon arriving in Las Vegas, Hatton was faced with another obstacle. Mayweather Sr informed him that he would not be allowed to hold pads in the southpaw stance, which was a disadvantage for Hatton. This further added to his mental and physical strain.

A Damaged Mindset

With the devastating loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr still fresh in his mind and a falling out with his coach, Hatton's mental state was not in a good place. Despite Mayweather Sr's intense training and the difficulties leading up to the fight, Hatton was determined not to pull out, as tickets had already been sold and he wanted to preserve his pride.

The Aftermath

After being knocked out by Pacquiao in just two rounds, Hatton took a three-year hiatus from boxing. He returned in 2012 but eventually retired after a loss to Vyacheslav Senchenko. Since retirement, Hatton has turned to coaching and is now a team captain for a boxing concept called The Box Off.

A New Opportunity for Boxers

The Box Off is a knockout competition featuring four city-based teams, with five fighters from each weight class. Hatton believes this will provide opportunities for up-and-coming fighters who may not have had a chance otherwise. He sees it as a platform for talent to shine and potentially secure contracts with major boxing promoters.

Overall, Hatton acknowledges the challenges he faced during his training camp for the Pacquiao fight but remains resilient in his determination to forge a new path in the boxing world.