A new documentary featuring unprecedented access to the legendary Ricky Hatton is be broadcast on ITV4.
Produced by Ad Hoc Films, ‘Night Of The Fight: Hatton’s Last Stand’ promises to be a raw and brutal account of events surrounding his final professional bout in Manchester against Vyacheslav Senchenko last November.
The film will be premiere on ITV4 and ITV4 HD in October and features close-quarters access to Ricky, his team and his immediately family with exclusive scenes from training and ringside on fight night.
Cameras are allowed into Ricky’s home, to the dressing room before and immediately after the fight, bringing viewers a unique personal and professional insight into one of boxing’s most colourful characters at a key moment in his life and career.
The popular Mancunian said that the bout represented a sort of personal “redemption”, having not stepped into the ring since his loss to Manny Pacquiao in April 2009.
The boxer is seen in the gym, and running through the streets as part of his training.
He says his desire to return to the ring is burning strongly after being the subject of lurid tabloid headlines over drug-taking and binge drinking since his last fight in 2009: “It’s not just the defeat by Manny Pacquiao – I feel like I’ve let people down and all that good I did in the ring has all been for nothing at this moment in time.
“It’s something that needs doing not only for me to move on in me boxing career – but to move on in me life.”
Ricky is seen at home in his kitchen, laughing with his partner. After he weighs in at ten stone eight pounds and eleven ounces, she says he might be able to have a drink – of water.
He jokes: “One minute you want me to be a changed man and the next minute you’re saying go and have a drink. Maybe on the Thursday I could have a fish supper and then go out and have a drink.”
The camera is ringside at the Manchester Arena as Ricky walks on for what turns out to be his last fight.
In the early stages he looks good until he’s caught by a jab, as his trainer Bob Shannon tells him between rounds: “Ricky. Don’t go rushing in.
“You listening? You got careless in that round – you got in some fantastic shots, then you went – going in. You weren’t thinking were you? Get back on track Rick. He’s all yours.”
But after the tide turns and Senchenko wins by knockout in round nine, Ricky makes the decision to retire, telling his entourage he’s unwilling to put his girlfriend or his body through the strain of a big fight again.
He concludes: “The problem with what happened last time was I spent two years, three years thinking, ‘Oh I’ve still got it, I can still come back – I’ve still got one more fight in me’.
“But I’m f-ing kidding myself again. I’m putting myself in the same f-ing mess I always did. Before the fight I wanted to know if I still had it left and I haven’t, and I don’t need to dwell. I’m happy.”
Speaking about the new ITV documentary, Hatton said: “My comeback was an incredible journey and the boys at Ad Hoc Films have captured the emotion, blood, sweat and tears perfectly.
“I had demons to fight inside and outside the ring, to get my body back battle-hardened after so many years out, to shed masses of weight and do all this knowing that defeat could send me back to a place that nearly cost me my life.
“But that emotional night in Manchester made me realise more than winning a boxing match was at stake. This was my redemption.”
ITV’s Director of Sport Niall Sloane says: “I’m delighted ITV is giving a television premiere to this unique insight into Ricky Hatton, whose triumphs and personality turned him into a British sporting icon.
“The levels of access the film-makers have managed to get mean viewers are in for a treat as they see up-close the compelling story behind his return to the ring.”
Ad Hoc’s previous work includes the Grierson Award-shortlisted documentary The Four Year Plan, which went behind the scenes at Queens Park Rangers.
Producer Daniel Glynn says: “This film truly reveals a side to Ricky people have never seen before. It’s raw, honest and emotional film-making that will appeal to a wide audience, not just sports fans.
“It really was a privilege to have had such incredible access to Ricky and quite courageous on his part, allowing our cameras to document this important moment in his personal and professional life.
“I’m delighted that ITV is supporting the film and are giving it the audience it deserves.”
Director Mat Hodgson says: “There are few sporting icons as complex and interesting as Ricky… and no sport can expose an individual quite like boxing can.
“The combination of the two make for fascinating documentary. When making sport documentary the tendency is to believe without victory the film fails to deliver.
“The process of making this made me realize differently and hopefully this will be as close to uplifting as sport and documentary can be within the context of a defeat.”
The documentary’s release coincides with the publication of Hatton’s new autobiography.
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Wednesday 16th October
Night of the Fight: Hatton’s Last Stand
10.00pm-11.00pm ITV4
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