HATTON THOUGHT OF SUICIDE AFTER BRUTAL KO LOSS TO PACQUIAO
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 30 Sep 2011
Former IBO light welterweight champion Ricky ?The Hitman? Hatton has admitted he was so depressed after his brutal second round knockout to current pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquuao that he thought of committing suicide.
Hatton told BBC Radio 5 live in an exclusive interview explained how his life spiralled out of control in a battle with drink and drugs.
Hatton confirmed his retirement last July and is now a successful boxing promoter in Britain.
Hatton confessed "I was so down, I was crying and breaking out and contemplating suicide."
Pacquiao virtually separated Hatton from his senses in their May 2009 title fight in Las Vegas after which Hatton said "I was going deeper and deeper into depression. I was getting depressed. I was going out and having a few drinks. The worst thing you can do with depression is add alcohol to it.?
He said "Depression is a serious thing and, after my defeat to Manny Pacquiao, I contemplated retirement and didn't cope with it very well."
In fact Hatton?s troubled life after the Pacquiao loss was exposed in a newspaper sting where he was shown taking cocaine.
Hatton added: "For someone in my position taking drugs once is nothing short of disgraceful. 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.?
The former world champion who was also stopped by Floyd Mayweather who took ten rounds to get the job done said that "Being a proud man and a warrior, to get splattered in two rounds like I did, was really hard to come to terms with. When I tried to get back into training, I realised the hunger was gone and my career was over.
He recalled "Everything got on top of me and it was a really horrible time in my life. I would go out, have a few drinks, start sulking and start feeling sorry for myself. I kept coming home and crying to my girlfriend saying, 'I want to end it, I don't want to live'. Depression is a very serious thing. People don't realise how deadly it can be."
Hatton won 45 of his 47 fights during a 12-year career.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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