Ring legend Ricky Hatton says he was at rock bottom when Ryan Burnett left him – but now he’s on top of the world and planning to stay there.
Burnett has gone on to win the IBF bantamweight title after quitting Hatton’s gym and linking up with Adam Booth.
The 25 year old makes his first world-title defence against WBA Super champion Zhanat Zhakiyanov in home city Belfast on Saturday, October 21 – and Hatton will be in the opposite corner.
Zhakiyanov became the first world champion Hatton has trained when he outpointed Rau’shee Warren in America in February – and ‘The Hitman’ says he understands why he never got the chance to take Burnett all the way to the top.
“I trained Ryan for a short while at the start of his career,” said Hatton, who has battled depression since he hung up his gloves.
“But I wasn’t the trainer I am today.
“I was having a lot of problems at the time, I wasn’t in a good place at all, and Ryan felt the training was better elsewhere.
“I understand why he left. There are no hard feelings.
“The Ricky Hatton of today is in a miles better place than the Ricky Hatton back then.
“I’m a better trainer and the gym is buzzing. I’ve got fighters like Zhanat, (English super-middleweight champion) Darryll Williams and (unbeaten heavyweight) Nathan Gorman in the gym.”
Burnett and Zhakiyanov sparred several times at Hatton’s gym and he said: “Most times they sparred, Ryan edged it and with his boxing ability you would expect him to.
“But when you take the head guards and the big gloves off and look at the fight, Zhanat has beaten the better men.
“Zhanat has been in the trenches and Ryan hasn’t, but he is tougher than he looks.
“Ryan looks like a choirboy, but he’s tough.”