Hatton may quit after last bout, says sorry

MANILA, Philippines - Whether Ricky Hatton stays on the ring or heads for retirement will be known a week from now.

And this early, the British fighter is calling on his fans for understanding.

“Whatever it is (decision) I am sorry,” he told The Sun in an exclusive interview days after the 30-year-old pride of Manchester took a crushing defeat to Filipino pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

It was a bitter pill to swallow considering that all of England knew that Hatton stood a very good chance against Pacquiao.

Of course, the boxer who was knocked down thrice inside two rounds is devastated.

Hatton has admitted his battering at the hands of Manny Pacquiao has left him in “bits”.

The Hitman, 30, was knocked out in the second round after getting decked twice in the first by Pacquiao who preserved his status as the best pound for pound fighter in the world.

“I am absolutely devastated. My head is in bits. I didn’t think I could cry anymore than after the Floyd Mayweather Jr. loss, but I certainly have,” said Hatton, who took only the second loss of his long, checkered career.

“Pacquiao knocked me down from practically the first punch he threw and I never recovered,” he said, adding that he could have stayed longer in the ring, and stood a better chance if he didn’t charge at Pacquiao.

But experts believe that the result was plain inevitable in that Hatton couldn’t have taken Pacquiao’s punches whether they came early or late.

“Maybe my attitude was wrong because I always wear my heart on my sleeve and I was straight in there. Maybe if I had gone a few rounds I could have won, but there was nothing I could do about it,” he told The Sun.

Hatton’s decision may be announced next week when his new gym opens in Hyde, Manchester.

“I have felt worse after hard 12-round fights, because it was over that quickly and physically I have never felt better. Whatever I decide to do I am sorry. I wouldn’t have put money on that happening, but I won’t be making any rash decisions,” he said.

“I’m not saying I am the greatest British world champion ever, but nobody has ever had support like me and that is a fact,” he said.

Hatton, who had received calls for him to retire following the very hard fall against Pacquiao, looked at his future as a boxing promoter, too.

“I have worked with a lot of promoters and I can become the best promoter in the world because I’ll do right by the fighters and that doesn’t always happen. There are a lot of things happening in my life and I’ll still be a big noise in boxing whatever I choose to do,” he said.

His mother, Carol, also hinted of retirement for the boxer.

But not after one last fight before his fans in Manchester, probably a fight against Australian Michael Katsidis. A win could serve as the best exit for Hatton.

“He doesn’t have to prove anything to anybody if he wants to carry on. I know he wants to have one farewell fight for the fans in England but we don’t know,” said Carol.

Mothers know best — even in boxing.