I was suicidal after Pacquiao defeat, says Hatton

LONDON—Britain’s former world welterweight champion Ricky Hatton admitted on Thursday that his brutal defeat at the hands of Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao drove him to the brink of suicide.

Hatton, who retired in July, was demolished inside just two rounds by Pacquiao in Las Vegas in May 2009, a fierce battering which caused his life to spiral out of control in a battle with drink and drugs.

“I was so down, I was crying and breaking out and contemplating suicide,” Hatton told the BBC.


“I was going deeper and deeper into depression. I was going out and having a few drinks. The worst thing you can do with depression is add alcohol to it.

“I needed something to get my backside into gear and pull my finger out. Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom to think, ‘Blimey Ricky, get a grip’.

“Depression is a serious thing and, after my defeat to Manny Pacquiao, I contemplated retirement and didn’t cope with it very well.”

Hatton’s predicament worsened when he fell victim to a newspaper sting in which he was shown taking cocaine before he went into rehabilitation.

“For someone in my position taking drugs once is nothing short of disgraceful,” said the 32-year-old.

“The reason behind my actions and the way I was behaving wasn’t a drink or drugs thing, it was depression. I was so down, I was crying and breaking out and contemplating suicide.

“Half the things I was doing I didn’t even read about in the paper. I can’t even remember the night it happened – that’s what depression does to you.

“I was having blackouts, days on end whether I was drinking or not when I couldn’t remember what had happened in my life.

“I thank the News of the World because who knows where it could have ended up.”

Pacquiao Marquez

Pacquiao-Marquez Part 3 likely to be fought at 145 lbs

Filed Under: Boxing

HOLLYWOOD?If the final chapter of the bruited Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez trilogy pushes true, it would be fought at 145 pounds.

Marquez has made it a personal crusade to exact revenge on the Filipino superstar, but he might not be able to fight Pacquiao at 147.

The Mexican holds court at lightweight (135). The last time he tried to fight at a catch weight of 144, he failed against Floyd Mayweather Jr., who came in two pounds over the contracted limit.

Pacquiao?s last four fights were fought at 147 or over. He had never exceeded 146 during weigh-in, however.

For Pacquiao adviser Mike Koncz, the logical weight is 144 to 145.
Pacquiao tipped the scales at 145 Friday, during the weigh-in for his successful defense of the WBO welterweight title Saturday.

The 37-year-old Marquez is the leading candidate to clash with Pacquiao, 32, on Nov. 5, the date chosen by Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum to stage the pound-for-pound king?s next fight in Las Vegas.
Also on the list of probable contenders are Timothy Bradley and Zab Judah, according to Arum.
For Roach, however, ?the only sensible fight out of the three is Marquez.?
?They have history,? said Roach. ?He?s supposed to have Manny?s numbers, which might be true, but I think Manny has really progressed a long way since they fought a long time ago.
?I just want to like this fight just to shut him up and settle the score.?
Marquez held Pacquiao to a controversial draw in 2004 despite being knocked down three times in the first round. Their second bout took place in 2008, with Pacquiao knocking down Marquez in the third and eking out a split decision.
?We?ll talk about it,? said Roach. ?[Pacquiao] is weighing at 144 to 145 in his last couple of fights. Anyway, weight won?t be an issue.?

Pacquiao, who hosted a dart tournament in his unit at the gated Palazzo here Monday, has repeatedly expressed interest in fighting Marquez again.
The lure of big money?as much as $5 million plus pay-per-view and closed-circuit sales, according to ring pundits?and his desire for revenge may be enough for Marquez to accept Arum?s terms.

There?s a hitch, though.

Golden Boy Promotions has the right of first refusal over Marquez and unless it refuses to match Top Rank?s offer, the Mexican great can?t fight Pacquiao.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao, his wife Jinkee and his siblings will leave Los Angeles for Manila on Wednesday.

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Pacquiao Marquez

By Roy Luarca
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:37:00 05/10/2011