RICKY ‘THE HITMAN’ HATTON – A NEW CHAPTER; Sykes-Buckland on September 24; Walsh-Appleby on 9/30

RICKY HATTON has taken over from his father Ray as head of the Hatton group.

The former world light-welterweight and welterweight champion insists he can take the organization from strength to strength after his dad’s decade at the helm.

Ricky, 32, who will oversee a mushrooming empire which includes a clothing brand, a private members gym and a TV network had also applied for his seconds and trainers licences.

The flagship company is his boxing outfit, Hatton Promotions which was recently named European Promoter of the Year and produced dozens of major champions in little more than two years.

Ricky revealed that his dad was fully behind his ambitious plans, and says: “I told my dad that I wanted to take over the company as this was something I wanted to do now that I have finally retired from boxing.

“It took a long time to make that retirement announcement, but when I did that in July I felt like a massive weight had been lifted and that I could look forward.

“Dad told me how proud he was and is confident that I will do a great job in his absence”.

Ray who recently celebrated his 60th birthday will now be able to spend more time with wife Carol in his deserved retirement.

Ricky added: “I am looking forward to seeing my dad relax now and enjoy his life. I cannot thank him enough for his invaluable guidance.

“I see this as the start of a new career, and I am well equipped to make the Hatton brand even bigger.

“Dad has worked so hard over the years he deserves to take life easier, put his feet up and spend more time with mum.”

Although Ricky’s problems have been well documented he’s battled back to full health and hopes to be working the corners of his talent stacked stable in the very near future.

He promised: “It won’t be long before you see me back in the ring, but talking words of wisdom to future world champions in the corner instead of fighting.

“If I am lucky enough to train a world champion it would give me as much pleasure as any of my great victories around the world.”

His fiancée Jennifer Dooley is due to give birth this week to the newest team Hatton member – baby daughter Millie.

Ricky who has a ten-year-old son Campbell from a previous relationship said: “My little lady is due any day and things could not be going any better right now.

“I feel like this is a new beginning and I will make the most of it for my family and fighters, who are all my friends and who I consider my extended family.”

SYKES PROMISED BUCKLAND REVENGE

GARY SYKES insists he will prove that Gary Buckland got lucky when he stopped him in one round last year.

The British super-featherweight champion is eyeing revenge when he risks his British super-featherweight title against the Welshman in a rematch at Ponds Forge Arena on Saturday September 24.

Sykes, 27, was hammered in 45 seconds by the Hatton Promotions hitter when they clashed in Prizefighter last November.

Dewsbury’s Sykes who has sold 200 tickets for the Steel City showdown said: “Everything now is geared towards Buckland. There will be no excuses this time.

“When I lost to him in Prizefighter, there were lots of excuses as I went into that at very short notice.

“Me and my trainer, Julian McGowan have worked on a game plan to beat Buckland and I can assure that he won’t be doing another Prizefighter on me.”

The Buckland loss is Gary’s only loss in 20 fights and he’ll win a Lonsdale belt outright if he succeeds next week.

He won the title against Andy Morris in March 2010 and outpointed Kevin O’Hara and Carl Johanneson in subsequent defences.

He added: “I still rank my victory over Anthony Crolla as the best performance of my career, especially when you look what he has gone on to achieve.

“I’ve had bigger and better nights, winning the British title against Andy Morris and the win over Carl Johanneson but the night I fought Crolla, I felt brilliant and I know I will have to be the same against Buckland.”

In the chief support former European champion and WBC world title challenger Rendall Munroe meets Ryuta Miyagi in a non-title ten rounder.

Impressive prospects Adam Etches, Scott Jenkins, Richard Towers and Jezz Wilson are among the local hopefuls boxing on the bill.

Heavyweight Towers and light-middleweight Etches face Belarussian’s Yuri Bihoutseu and Yauheni Abdurazakau, respectively.

Jenkins who has sold 300 tickets bids for his second professional win against a selected opponent.

Wilson faces Deeside’s exciting light-middleweight Tom Doran in a battle of Hatton promoted hopefuls.

And the Steel city’s former Commonwealth light-heavyweight challenger Billy Boyle faces Welsh banger Justyn Hugh.

Manchester’s former amateur star Tommy Stubbs makes his pro debut when he faces, tricky Kuwaiti Anwar Alfadi, who boxes out of Brendan Ingle’s stable.

There are some tickets left priced £35, £55 and £75 VIP from 01925 755222. Be quick, this show WILL sell-out.

The card will be screened live by Sky Sports.

WALSH BROTHERS TARGET WORLD TITLES

Liam Walsh and twin brother Ryan and elder brother Michael have made a pact to become world champions at the same time.

The unbeaten Commonwealth Super-Featherweight champion feels that he and his two brothers have what it takes to become champions at all levels.

Cromer star Walsh makes the second defence of his title against former British Featherweight champion Paul Appleby on Friday 30th September at London’s York Hall – the debut show of George and Francis Warren of Queensberry Promotions.

“We’re all in the sport to get to the top,” Walsh said. “I genuinely believe Ryan, Michael and myself can be world champions at the same time. You see fighters that are world champions and have been champions and you think why not.

“I train everyday and I give my whole life to boxing, so why can’t I be a world champion?

“Ryan is also genuinely determined, he is in the gym training with me everyday, I think Ryan is a bit underrated to be honest with you, some people are going to get a shock from Ryan but I will let him speak for himself.

“Michael is out injured at the minute and is a bit down in the dumps but when he gets back he’ll take some beating. One day it would be brilliant if we were all champions, it would be a dream come true if we were all world champions.”

With that being said, Walsh, who will be stepping into the ring for the twelfth time, wants to take things one step at a time.

“I’m in this sport to get to the top and I’m sure Paul is as well,” he contined. “I can’t look past Paul Appleby, I’m ambitious and I want to be a British, European and World champion but if I look beyond Paul I won’t be any of them.

“Right now the only thing that I’m concentrating on his train for this might against Paul and beating him.

“I think it will be a cracking fight, I think the fans watching it will have a belter, we both have to go out there and win. I need to win , I’m on a path to where I want to be and for Paul it’s pretty much his last chance.

“We’re meeting at a good point in our careers because with both have to win and we’re both going to lay it on the line.”

Walsh and his brothers have continued training at their Norwich base with trainer Graham Everett.

“Preparations have been going well and I feel this has been my best training camp to date and I have done more sparring than before. I feel brilliant and there will be know excuses on my behalf,” the 25-year-old continued.

“I’ve studied a lot of Paul fights, I’ve got quite a lot of his fights on DVD. I’ve been preparing for lots of different strategies. He is aggressive, but in his last couple of fights he’s used his jab and defense a bit more, but I’m prepared either way.”

Remaining tickets priced at £40 and £60 are available on Box Office 01992 505 550.