Ricky Hatton muses over success of younger brother
Former welterweight world champion Ricky Hatton has confirmed that seeing his younger brother Matthew Hatton win a world title would mean the world to him.
Matthew, 29, is steadily on course for his own welterweight title if he can successfully defend his European welterweight championship against weekend opponent Roberto Belge at Bolton’s Reebok Stadium.
It won’t be easy for Hatton, as the Swiss Belge (25-0, 4 KOs) is an undefeated welterweight prospect.
Regarding his brother, Ricky said, “Matthew is every bit a success story in the ring as I have been. If someone had said he’ll become European champion and closing in on a world title when he was losing six rounder’s, you wouldn’t have believed them.”
Matthew is undefeated since 2008, with solid performance against the likes of Lovemore N’Dou and Gianluca Branco.
While he fought N’Dou to a draw, he earned the respect of a formidable boxing veteran who has fought both Paulie Malignaggi and Kermit Cintron.
“A lot of the credit goes to Matthew for dusting himself down, getting himself back and not listening to people,” Ricky added.
“When it wasn’t going right for Matthew, I wouldn’t have blamed him if he said, ‘this isn’t for me’ and threw the towel in, but he stuck at it."
"From where Matthew has come, if he fought for the world title, what a story that would be. If he won a world title, I would be as proud as I was myself every time I won a big fight," Ricky said.
Ricky is coming off a series of public ills that saw him receive criticism for drug and alcohol habits. Hatton recently re-emerged after a stint in a rehabilitation facility to reclaim his duties as one of Britain’s premier boxing promoters.
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