Ricky Hatton is said to be "devastated and distraught" by allegations of drug abuse. He was secretly filmed snorting what is believed to be cocaine.
Hitman rocked by News of the World revelations
Ricky Hatton is said to be "devastated and distraught" by allegations of drug abuse.
The former two-weight world champion has been exposed on camera by the
News of the World taking what is believed to be cocaine.
The footage comes from a Manchester hotel room two weeks ago when Hatton was on a night out with female boxer and friend Emma Bowe.
It pictures the one-time undisputed light-welterweight king cutting up lines of the substance with a credit card and then snorting it through a rolled up £20 note.
It is said to have happened on a night out when he is also said to have sank 11 pints of Guinness, and downed vodka, wine and sambuca.
Hatton's spokesman, Max Clifford, said he had spoken to the 31-year-old, who has been "in a bad place for some time".
The fighter/promoter has accepted full responsibility for the scenes that will shock his legion of fans - and leave his career in tatters.
"I have spoken to Ricky just half an hour ago, he is very upset and very subdued, very flat," said Clifford.
Responsibility
"He feels he's let everybody that matters down badly, his friends, his family, his fans and of course most of all himself, that he is, in his own words, he's been in a bad place for some time, probably before even his last fight and obviously he's really upset about what has happened but he totally takes responsibility, takes the blame, 'It's all down to me'.
"He just wants to let everybody know how he feels, he's got to sort himself out.
"I think it is fair to say, friends and family have been trying to warn him in recent times, for the last few months and now they are all hoping this situation will bring him to his senses.
"I think obviously everybody is hoping some good will come out of this. He feels devastated and we all hope this will be the wake-up call."
Hatton is not the first British ring legend to be caught up in a cocaine scandal. Friend and fellow two-weight world champion Joe Calzaghe admitted to "occasional use" of the drug following another News of the World story in March.
But it is likely to scupper any ring comeback from the Hitman, who renewed his boxing licence in July - but has not fought since being knocked out by Manny Pacquiao in May 2009.
