Featured image credit: PA
Recently Ricky 'The Hitman' Hatton has seemingly been at a low point in his life.
Following a series of bust ups with his fiancée, parties in Spain, and a Twitter message saying he has 'nothing left', fans have been worried about The Hitman.
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Hatton posted the Tweet during his partying in Spain, and his father, Ray, told the Sunday Mirror that it is cause for concern, but he is okay.
Amid the worrying messages from Ricky, I think it's important for him to remember just how much of a legend he really is.
People connected with Ricky. It didn't matter whether you were a massive boxing fan, or not, people loved him, still do, and always will.
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For young people, especially those in the north, and more specifically those in the north west, they connected with him.
Seeing a man who wore the same trainers as you, wore the same clothes, came from a similar place and background as you, spoke the same, and applied the same everyday graft to be the best he could, strikes a chord with all of us. It gives you the feeling of 'if he can do, so can I'. He's a normal guy, born and bred on the streets of Manchester, playing footy with his mates, enjoying a good time, reaching huge heights of success.
I'm not saying we all watched him and wanted to grow up to knock people out for a living, but it does give you the feeling that you can reach similar heights in whatever field.
It was the same with the likes of Oasis and the Stone Roses. Normal lads, from council estates, wearing Adidas trainers, growing up to take the world by storm.
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Fans of Ricky rushed to give him their support on Twitter after he tweeted: 'I have nothing left, absolutely nothing'. They reminded him why he is still loved in not only the boxing community, but throughout the UK.
His parents rushed to find out whether their son was okay after the online meltdown, which he thankfully was.
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Ricky's accomplishments in boxing include the WBA (Super), IBF, IBO, and the WBA welterweight titles.
In 2007 and 2009, Hatton took on Floyd 'Money' Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, respectively. Mayweather and Pacquiao are two of the most well known fighters in boxing, so to see a lad, from Manchester, sporting Man City blue, in the middle of a ring in Las Vegas, against two huge fighters, was awe-inspiring.
Yes, he was unsuccessful in both bouts, but that didn't matter. The groundwork he'd put in to get him to that point in his professional career speaks for itself.
Hatton with Mayweather. Credit: PA
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After Floyd Mayweather defeated Hatton in the eighth round in 2007, the Money man said: "Ricky Hatton is one tough fighter. He is still a champion in my eyes and I'd love to see him fight again.
"Ricky Hatton is probably one of the toughest competitors I've faced. I hit him with some big ones, but he kept coming and I can see why they call him 'The Hitman'."
Which is quite something coming from Mayweather.
Whatever is going on with Ricky recently, we hope to God he is okay, and that things sort themselves out for The Hitman.
Ricky, you've inspired and given hope to millions. You were a legend then, now and to come.
Words by Mark McGowan
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