Seconds out!

Last updated: 1st May 2008

ricky hatton smile

Hatton: Tips for the Rugby League lads

A group of former Rugby League professionals will step into the ring in June to raise money on behalf of the Steve Prescott fund.

Fresh from his London Marathon success Terry O'Connor visits the gym to chat to the contenders as they get some tips from non other than Ricky Hatton.

Anthony Sullivan and Steve Hampson are just two of the former players in heavy training for an evening of boxing on the 14th June at The Reebok Coral.

"I didn't know you could throw them like that or I wouldn't have bothered you on the pitch," said Terry to former Great Britain and St Helens winger Anthony Sullivan.

"Well I have only just learnt," Sullivan replied. "It is a good way to get fit and I am going to get the hooded top and go running like Rocky did. I have chickens to chase too."

Steve Hampson is taking no chances, especially as their opponents include Karl Kirkpatrick and the formidable Esene Faimalo who was once rated as the third best heavyweight in New Zealand.

"One of the guys who is teaching how to box is a cage fighter - if I need to I can bring up the knee or the elbow, just in case I a losing," joked Hampson.

If you want to know about the fight game who better to ask than Ricky Hatton, who gave our boxing hopefuls some tips.

"Rugby is one of those no nonsense sports a bit like Boxing," said Hatton.

"You can't get a bigger football fan than me, but they do tend to fall over a little on the sharpish side unlike us boxers and rugby players.

"I don't see it being a problem for them to be honest."