Ricky Hatton rehabilitation stint complete
Former boxing champion Ricky Hatton has left rehab following a month of tumultuous public relations and an ongoing battle with drug abuse and depression.
The British boxer turned promoter scorched headlines last month when The News of the Week published photos of him sniffing cocaine in a hotel washroom. Immediately after the news broke Hatton apologized to the public and admitted he had been depressed since
his last fight, in which star Manny Pacquiao knocked him out in two rounds.
Hatton’s friend Emma Bowe, herself a women’s boxing champion, disclosed the details to the tabloid in an effort to 'help him' with his problems. Soon after, Bowe also revealed that she had been having an affair with Hatton, who is engaged.
Hatton was stripped of three licenses from the British Board of Control, including his boxing license, but remains able to professionally promote the sport.
Following the revelations, Hatton said: “"I couldn't show my face for months and months on end. I was suffering really, really badly, so even though I always used to have a drink, I started drinking a little bit more, and along with the depression [...]
things got on top of me and slowly just went from bad to worse, and it ended up resulting in dabbling in other silly things.”
Matthew Hatton, Ricky’s younger brother, recently came out and said that he hopes his brother will be able to recover from his troubles. He also suggested that a return to the ring for “The Hitman” is unlikely.
Hatton is a two-time IBF and IBO junior welterweight champion. Perhaps his most notable win was a 12th round stoppage of Kostya Tszyu, then one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
A spokesperson for Hatton said that “it’s not been the best of times, but he’s out now and looking much better.”
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