14 January 2024 , 08:00
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Ahead of his stint on ITV's Dancing on Ice, former two-weight world boxing champion Ricky Hatton might be borrowing some dieting techniques from his fighting days.
The Manchester-born star, once known as Ricky 'Fatton' due to his eating habits and heavy drinking, managed to get himself into the best shape of his life for his comeback fight against Marco Antonio Barrera in 2022, and he is looking lean ahead of his appearance on the ice.
Just over a year ago the then 45-year-old faced off against the then 48-year-old Barrera in an unofficial, unscored bout in front of a home crowd at Manchester's AO Arena. Hatton revealed his dramatic body transformation before the fight, which involved giving up 12 cups of tea a day and his alcoholic 'treats', resulting in a weight loss of 40lbs.
Speaking to British Boxing TV, Hatton said: "I like pints of beer, it has been well known, but you can't do that. I think that is the main thing with the weight." He added: "If you go out and have pints seven days a week you won't be walking around with a six pack. I think it is just sensible, eating the right things small and often and regular workouts."
He also shared: "Some days I have thought "can I have a rest day?" and then I have thought I will take my foot down on the pace and go for a run to keep a sweat on. I do two workouts a day so my metabolism is always racing.
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Ricky Hatton returned to the ring in November 2022 (Lee Brown)"Cut it down on treats, I have 12 cups of tea a day normally but it has to just be a one-off. I think the best thing is the willpower, and a nutritionist is only good as the lad that advises him and I think it is all down to your own personal discipline."
Hatton has been open about his own mental health struggles, but he revealed his reason for returning to the boxing ring 14 months ago: entertaining those who suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic. He said: "I am doing this for fans who struggled being locked up with Covid."
"I got a call and was asked if I would come back to do this for the fans who have been locked up for ages during Covid. Covid has been tough for me, for everyone. I want to inspire people who have had mental health problems, too. They can look at me and say 'He struggled and now look at where he is' so they can do it too."
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