Ricky Hatton will keep emotions in check during comeback

Ricky Hatton. AP file photo

LONDON—Ricky Hatton has pledged to keep his emotions in check when the British boxer makes his comeback against Ukraine’s Vyacheslav Senchenko on Saturday.

Hatton will be fighting for the first time since May 2009 when Manny Pacquiao handed him the second defeat of his career following a 2007 loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The 34-year-old is adamant he has learned from the mistakes he made in both those contests and insists he will show a more controlled approach against former world champion Senchenko.

“I’ve spent so much time sulking about the Mayweather defeat and the Pacquiao defeat. They were my two biggest fights and I messed up,” Hatton said.

“I was too aggressive, too over eager. If I make that mistake all over again then I’m not the fighter I think I am.”

Hatton spent the three years since his last fight in turmoil as he battled with spiralling weight, drink and drugs problems and depression that left him on the verge of suicide.

But he has got back down to a fighting weight and a sell-out crowd hope to see the victorious return of the local hero at Manchester Arena this weekend.

“It will be a very emotional night for me. The ring walk, if you talk to most fighters, it’s where you get your nerves together, you start thinking about your family and your kids, what you’ve gone through to get to this point,” he said.

“I’ve got a few more things to think about this time – how I let everyone down, how I disgraced myself. I’m here to redeem myself. I’ve got to keep all that tension inside me and control it.

“Life has kicked my arse. I’ve got so much tension and anger inside me that I want to throw at Senchenko but I can’t throw it at him like I did against Manny Pacquaio. It’s got to be to the game plan and in a positive manner.

“If I’m the champion I believe I am, it won’t be a problem holding it all together. Although they might need a mop and bucket when I’m leaving the ring.”