“It Puts Your Head Away”: Reminiscing About His Struggles With Retirement, Ricky Hatton Advocates Mental Health Support For Professional Boxers Post-Retirement

Accommodating oneself in the world of glitz and glamor isn’t a piece of cake. Especially in careers of show biz, it’s very crucial to protect one’s mental health. Speaking about the same, we have the retired British boxer Ricky Hatton. Hatton boxed professionally from 1997 to 2012. He fought in two weight classes: light welterweight and welterweight.

Furthermore, he won multiple world titles, including WBA (Super) and IBF. Moreover, he fought notable boxers like Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao but lost to them. However, Hatton struggled with mental health and substance abuse. He retired in 2012 but still works as a promoter and trainer. Now, he is using his voice to advocate the issues of mental health that boxers face.

Ricky Hatton raises his voice to address the mental health struggles of boxers

In a recent interview with Sky Sports, Ricky raised his voice against the aftermath of show biz. Moreover, he also talked about his personal struggles in battling mental sanity. He described how after his retirement he went from 40,000 people chanting his name to none after he retired. Hatton also elucidated about his victory against Kostya Tszyu.

Ricky said,  “I’ve said for a while and I’m not the only one. Things should be put in place for boxers. I struggled with retirement. Even though I was successful and made money. All of a sudden, I’ve gone from 40,000 people chanting my name, beating Kostya Tszyu in Manchester and seeing my name in lights in Vegas. When that’s gone, all of a sudden it puts your head away. It doesn’t matter what you’ve achieved. I think a lot should be done for boxers at all levels, from the bottom right to the top.” 

Moreover, in another interview, he delved into details about how boxers could combat such issues, including his personal experience with it.

‘The Hitman’ elucidates how to combat such issues

In a MEN interview, Hatton says men should talk more about their feelings. He notes that society often stops men from being open. Hatton urges support for retired boxers. He thinks boxing should learn from football’s post-retirement support. Even with his success, Hatton struggled after retiring.

He says the boxing world must help fighters adjust to post-retirement life, both mentally and financially. As a trainer himself, and with his son Campbell following in his footsteps, Hatton encourages his fighters to be open about any issues they might be facing. He feels that his own life experiences make him a valuable resource for current professionals who may be dealing with similar challenges.

Read More: ‘Hatton vs McGregor’: Fans Go Berserk as 44-Year-Old Legend Ricky Hatton Looks Impressive in Latest Training Clip Ahead of Marco Antonio Barrera Boxing Return

Hatton knows the struggle of life after the ring. His life lessons make him a guide for today’s professional boxers. Hatton’s voice is a call to action: boxing needs to care for its fighters, in and out of the ring.

So, what are your thoughts about Ricky’s concerns? Share your views in the comment section below!

Watch This Story: Is Floyd Mayweather Earning $300 Million a Month?