By James Slater – A shocking news story has appeared in British tabloid The News of The World today; one that is sure to rock British boxing to its core. Former two-weight world champion and all-round boxing hero Ricky Hatton has reportedly been filmed snorting many lines of cocaine in a Manchester hotel room. The News of The World article also has a video to go with it (see Fightnews.com), and there does seem to be irrefutable evidence that Hatton, 31, really has done what the newspaper claims he has.
For even in today’s technical age, where ultra-convincing videos can be made, making people believe things that are fake are real, the video of Hatton leaning over in a bathroom and then taking the cocaine up his nose through a banknote looks genuine. Reportedly filmed in secret by a friend who filmed the act two weeks ago so as to help get the former champ to stop because “If he carries on he’ll kill himself. I’m really, really worried for him” the short video is hard to stomach. Especially as footage is then shown of Hatton is his fighting prime. It really is a massive contrast, seeing the bloated ex-champ compared with the primed and peaking wrecking machine of a great fighter.
Hatton’s fondness for a drink (or ten) is well known and has been for some time, but now, this latest news is sure to ruin his reputation. It really is tough to argue with video evidence, and Hatton surely has no choice but to admit to his drug problem.
Even more alarming is the fact that Hatton, absent from the ring since his brutal 2nd-round KO loss at the hands of Manny Pacquiao in May of 2009, is still talking about making a comeback. The close friend of Hatton who filmed the shock video, said the following on that subject:
“I’m really, really worried for him, especially if he tries to make a comeback in the ring as he’s hinted – he could have a heart attack.”
Indeed, it does now seem as though Hatton’s fighting days are well and truly over. In the boxing ring, that is. Ricky Hatton will certainly have to come out swinging if he’s to have any chance of restoring his once-great reputation after this disturbing scandal.
For the record, Hatton is shown snorting coke not once, but three times – and expertly, too. This drug consumption coming after the Manchester warrior had reportedly downed 11 pints of Guinness, four vodkas, two glasses of wine and several Sambucas. The news article reports how friends have noticed erratic behaviour from Ricky recently, and that they urge him to get professional help immediately