Ricky Hatton's Olympics
Ahead of London 2012 we asked a range of personalities to let us know what the Olympics means to them. Former world boxing champions Ricky Hatton tells us how he'll be watching the Games and who is considers the greatest Olympian.
Last Updated: 18/06/12 5:05pm
What's your favourite Olympic memory?
My favourite Olympic memories will always be through boxing - Muhammad Ali when he first came onto the scene as an Olympian. Then he obviously turned professional, gave it the trash talk and went on to back it up by becoming the greatest fighter of all time.
Who would you class as the greatest Olympian of all time?
I think Ali would be most people's favourite sportsman of all time - not just their favourite Olympian. He was just absolute class. All the great heavyweights like George Foreman, Lennox Lewis, Joe Fraizer and Ali all won the Olympics. If you win the Olympics, you have a great chance of doing it as a professional and let's hope Anthony Joshua can do it this year.
How much of London 2012 will you be watching? Are you going?
I'm very busy now as a promoter and trainer but whenever I can bang the TV on, I will always be watching it. If I bang the TV on and I see it, I'll always be hoping we do well. I'm very patriotic and proud of my country and always have been - in all sports.
How do you think Team GB will fare?
I think Team GB will do really well this year. When you think last time we only had Amir Khan going - this year we've got so much talent going that it's very exciting. When you see people like David Haye, Carl Froch and Amir Khan - and in years gone by, myself - doing well, I think that helps the amateur game. Amateur boxers look and say: 'That's where I want to be.' That's why the amateur team is thriving right now... And also, the job that Rob McCracken and Richie Woodall are doing speaks for itself.
What sport would you like to see added to the Olympics?
I'm a big darts fan. There's been talk of darts going to the Olympics but I don't know if that'll stick. Darts is getting bigger and bigger all the time. Hopefully it'll get to the Olympics one day!
If you were to enter the Olympics, which event would you choose and why (you can't pick boxing)?
It's always been something I wish I'd done, going to the Olympics. It's very exciting times now - especially this year because we have so much talent. I never got the chance to box in the Olympics but I represented my country many times and boxed all over the world as an amateur. It's a hard world out there nowadays - jobs are harder for everyone to find and if you can find a job doing something you love, it's definitely worth the sacrifice that these sportsmen make. If I was to enter the Olympics in a sport besides boxing, I think it'd have to be power-lifting.