Ricky Hatton told Sky Sports News HD he hopes his new career as a trainer will help restore his "ruined" reputation.
Hatton prepares to start new career as a trainer
Ricky Hatton will take a huge step towards redemption on Saturday night when he climbs into a boxing ring again - as a trainer.
The two-weight world champion will make his debut in the corner in front of the Sky Sports cameras at Oldham Sports Centre, when Adam Little boxes on the undercard for Denton Vassell's Commonwealth welterweight title defence against Samuel Colomban.
And although he was involved in arguably the biggest fights of his generation, against Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, and has boxed in front of more than 50,000 fans at the City of Manchester Stadium, Hatton admits he will be nervous.
"It's a big night for me Saturday," he told
Sky Sports News HD.
"But what people lost sight of in this game is that the most important people are the boxers. It's not my night, I see it as Adam's night and I'll be supporting him 100 per cent.
"He's a very talented lad, he's a very confident lad but obviously with it being Ricky Hatton's first fight in the corner thing, it probably adds a little bit of pressure for the kid. But he's not shown it."
Reputation
Hatton, who is also promoting Saturday night's bill, will have an active role in a fight for the first time since his official retirement in July.
His loss to Pacquaio in May 2009 was the last time he fought and he has since admitted to drug and alcohol problems as he battled with depression.
The 33-year-old admits that his image as one of the game's good guys was shattered overnight but says life as a trainer will show the public that his problems are behind him.
"I worked so hard to get reputation in boxing; man of the people, good lad, down to earth, the kid next door - and I ruined it," he said.
"The only sympathy I ask for is that depression is very serious illness, but I ruined my reputation.
"But people will forgive you if you bounce back stronger - and that's what I've done."
