Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton has been out of the ring for close to six years now, after losing to Vyacheslav Senchenko in 2012.Finishing his career with a professional record of 45-3, Hatton is widely regarded as one of Britain's best ever boxers.The three-time champion, whose gym is frequented by the like of Tyson Fury now works as a trainer, mentor, and promoter.But the 39-year-old proved that despite his time out of the ring, he's not lost a step, after video footage from the Ultimate Boxxer emerged, showing Hatton absolutely flooring a training partner.Launching the new tournament format in Manchester on April 27th, Hatton will be working alongside Paulie Malignaggi and Anthony Crolla.In a short clip posted on Hatton's Twitter account, the former super-lightweight and welterweight world champion can be seen inside the ring with a partner wearing a body shield.After shouting "Come on!", Hatton leaves his partner crumpled on the floor in pain, after landing his trademark left hook to the body.“The Hitman has definitely still got it... feel sorry for the poor lad taking a beating,” Hatton wrote.
Brutal. Can't blame the lad for going down like a sack of potatoes.
Despite multiple training videos appearing on Hatton's social media, a comeback to the ring seems unlikely, with the Manchester-based trainer focusing instead on aiding Tyson Fury's as he makes his long-awaited return to the ring.
“I’m dead proud of him,” Hatton said last month, speaking of Fury.
“He’d put about seven stone on and I was thinking ‘surely there’s no way back for Tyson, that’s too much."
“He came back in my gym three months ago and he said he’d already done three stone.
“And I could tell he’d done three stone because I see him knocking about Manchester sometimes.
“Then three months later, last week when he came down he said ‘I’ve done another three stone’.
“The [love-handles] have gone and everything.
“He was good when he was massive. He still had the movements and the sharpness and the speed of hand. But now he’s just looking even better.”