Former world champion Ricky Hatton retired from boxing once again after his comeback fight against Ukraine’s Vyacheslav Senchenko ended in defeat.
After a three-and-a-half year retirement from the sport, in which the 34-year-old Englishman battled alcohol and drug problems, as well as depression, he was outclassed by Senchenko who took victory on a ninth-round knockout.
Immediately after Saturday’s welterwieght contest Hatton, who was boxing in front of his Manchester home crowd, said he would have to have a “good think” about his future. But at a post-fight news conference he announced his retirement.
“I needed one more fight to see if I had still got it – and I haven’t,” explained Hatton, who said he now intended to concentrate on his career as a boxing promoter.
“I found out tonight it isn’t there no more. I’m a straight-shooter and I tell the truth. I can look at myself in the mirror and tell myself I did my best, but there is always an excuse to find.”
He added: “I got in the best shape I possibly could but if I hadn’t been hit with that body shot I would have just scraped over the line with a points win and I honestly think I would still be telling you all the same thing.