The former two-division champion, Ricky Hatton described how he could have ended his life after his loss against Manny Pacquiao in 2009.
The Hitman, Hatton is considered one of the British boxing greats with the Manchester native triumphing at both super-lightweight and welterweight during his time as a professional boxer.
But as with most people, Hatton’s journey was by no means a straight road as the Hitman had a mental breakdown after infamously losing out to Pacman at MGM, Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas.
Afterwards, Hatton had a fallout with his parents, Carol and Ray, and also dropped connections with his longtime trainer, Billy Graham, as the loss had deeply affected him.
“After I got beaten by Pacquiao I knew my career was over, I thought: ‘listen Rick, you’re past it now, son,” Hatton, 44, told the George Groves Boxing Club podcast.
“I knew there was no boxing left in my life, no mum and dad in my life and no Billy Graham in my life. That was when I was in my darkest moments.”
Hatton detailed how timely psychiatric input saved him from the brink of suicide as he managed to lift himself from the pit hole with the help of medicinal care.
“I had to go and see a psychiatrist in Manchester.”
“I went in and threw myself down on my knees, he came from round the desk and I put my arms round him and said ‘you need to tell me what to do here, in that boxing ring, there’s nothing I can’t do but you need to tell me what I need to do to put this right because I’m going to kill myself.
“I won’t be here next week if you don’t tell me what I need to do today.”
The Hitman returned to the ring three years later, but had to suffer a disappointing loss against Vyacheslav Senchenko. That appearance was his last professional bout in the ring.