Amir Khan criticizes BBC over Ricky Hatton decision
Following the British Boxing Board of Control’s decision to strip boxer Ricky Hatton of his boxing, training, and manager licenses, WBA champ Amir Khan has voiced his dismay.
Hatton’s professional licenses were stripped after he was caught with cocaine in a video released by
News of the Week last week. The fighter was subject to immediate criticism from much of the sporting world. He apologized and went on to confirm a personal problem with depression and substance abuse.
Hatton checked into a rehabilitation clinic just over a week ago, and will face police charges when he is released. He was also fined £20,000 by the BBBC for bringing the sport into 'disrepute'.
Khan was extremely critical of the punishment, saying, “Ricky is a good friend of mine, [and] taking away his manager's license seems a bit harsh to me. On the grapevine I have heard of footballers who have done the same thing, but they are still playing
football. I don't think Ricky would have made a comeback as a fighter anyway, but it's wrong to take away his manager's licence. It's like kicking him in the teeth when he is down.”
Despite annulling three of his licenses, the BBBC ruled that Hatton could maintain his promotional license out of necessity and continue managing his promotional company, Hatton Promotions. The main reason given for this was that the BBBC didn’t want Hatton’s
employees to have to suffer hardships due to Hatton’s vices.
According to Hatton’s publicist, Max Clifford, Hatton has been battling depression for weeks, and has seriously considered retirement. He was knocked out in his last professional fight against Manny Pacquiao, an incident that appears to have added insult
to injury.
Khan was empathetic, saying, "It's a real shame what has happened to Ricky, but I am 100 percent behind him. He knows he has done wrong, like Joe Calzaghe - they might have got a bit bored, met the wrong people and, after a few drinks, we might all do stupid
things.”
Tags: