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Ricky Hatton was advised to hang up his gloves for good by his own trainer after being knocked out on Saturday by Manny Pacquiao in a fight that ended with the Englishman flat on his back.
Filipino southpaw Pacquiao captured a world title in his record-tying sixth weight class by taking Hatton’s International Boxing Organization junior welterweight crown one second before the end of the second round.
A powerful left hand to the jaw sent Hatton to the canvas unconscious and on his back when referee Kenny Bayless ended the fight. Hatton fell to 45-2, his only prior loss to Floyd Mayweather Jnr in the same ring 17 months earlier.
Floyd Mayweather Snr, Hatton’s trainer, said that after two devastating defeats, the “Hitman” should call it a day.
“I would suggest he retire. At the end of the day it’s his decision,” said Mayweather Snr. “He tried twice. He failed twice. He lost to my son and to lose to someone below that, it’s time to leave the ring.
“He made a good profit. Sometimes you have to go when your prime is still there.”
Mayweather Snr hinted that even if Hatton does continue fighting, he will never be the same after the punishing blow Pacquiao landed to finish him.
“A lot of times in boxing when a fighter gets knocked out – I’m not saying this particularly about Ricky – they are just not the same anymore,” Mayweather Snr said.
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, even agreed with Mayweather on the subject after months of verbal sparring between the two.
“I like Ricky. He has a great work ethic,” Roach said. “I would like to think he would think about retiring right now. He has got plenty of money.”
Hatton, whose $US8m ($A11.03m) take was $US4 million ($A5.52 million) less than Pacquiao’s payday, was hospitalized after the fight as a precaution, but said: “It was a hard loss but I’m OK. I know I will be OK.”
Lee Beard, who served as Hatton’s assistant trainer, and Gareth Williams, Hatton’s manager, distanced themselves from Mayweather Snr after the loss, saying he was a consultant brought in for 12 weeks.
Hatton praised Mayweather and the contribution he had made to his overall skills in the week before the fight.
After the fight, Mayweather blasted Hatton for failing to listen to his instructions during the fight.
“He should have kept his head down. That was the match,” Mayweather said.
“Defense. It’s what I was preaching and preaching and preaching about. The defense I was telling him to do. Throw punches and keep your head back.
“Pacman just put him down. My instructions were to use the fade. Sometimes the fade can lure you into something. He didn’t use the fade. Straight forward. He just went back to his old days.
“Now he has got to accept what happened.”
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