“I tried to kill myself several times”: Former Boxing Champion Ricky Hatton Calls for Support System for Retired Fighters

Former world boxing champion Ricky Hatton tried to kill himself when he suffered from depression after quitting the ring, the Briton said on Thursday. Hatton admitted there was a huge gap in his life after retiring from a boxing career that saw him take on the likes of Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao in front of his army of supporters in Las Vegas. The Briton also talked about the need for boxers to get more help after retiring, when he appeared on BBC Radio 4's Today show, guest edited by Olympic boxing champion Nicola Adams. “I used to go to the pub, come back, take the knife out and sit there in the dark, crying hysterically.” – AFP But in the end I thought I’ll end up drinking myself to death because I was so miserable.”

Hatton said he believes that boxers don’t have the same type of support systems as other professional athletes, and many of them are too proud to ask for help. "The thing is with boxers, we don't come from Cambridge and places like that, we come from council estates.
Former boxing world champion Ricky Hatton speaks on British radio about depression and gives an account of past suicide attempts.