Ricky Hatton bravely opens up on trying to take his own life as boxing legend admits ‘I almost wasn't here'
The Pride of Hyde is fronting a new campaign
HATTON'S PAIN Ricky Hatton bravely opens up on trying to take his own life as boxing legend admits 'I almost wasn't here'
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RICKY HATTON has bravely opened up about trying to end his life in a bid to help those fighting mental health problems.
The former boxing world champion, 46, admitted there had been times he'd wanted to end things - but battled back from the brink.
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Ricky Hatton has opened up on his mental health demons
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The former world champ admits he tried to take his own life after retirement
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Hatton shared this picture of the campaign poster
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Hatton made his comments as part of a new poster campaign.
Billboards featuring The Hitman and adorned with the message "I Felt Suicidal, I Stayed" are currently on display in a bid to raise awareness of the struggles many face.
Ricky said: "I almost wasn't here. But in the end I decided to stay.
"There's always a reason to stay. You don't think it at the time.
"But there always is. After doing so, these days my job isn't just boxing, it is to help spread the word and help people in the same place I was a few years ago."
Hyde-born Hatton won 45 of his 48 pro fights during a glittering career.
But his mental health deteriorated after stepping away from boxing in 2012.
The multi-weight world champ admits he tried to kill himself on several occasions in a battle with depression.
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Hatton also talked about the need for boxers to get more help after hanging up their gloves.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today show: "I tried to kill myself several times.
Inside Ricky Hatton's career comeback after he beats addiction and finds fame on reality TV
"I used to go to the pub, come back and sit there in the dark crying hysterically."
He continued: "There were times when I hadn't had a drink for days and I'd still come home and if something went through my mind I'd start pondering something.
"It was the same outcome whether I was having a drink or wasn't having a drink.
"But in the end I thought I'll end up drinking myself to death because I was so miserable.
"I was coming off the rails with my drinking and that led to drugs. It was like a runaway train."
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Brave Mission improved again when second over 7f on handicap debut here, shaping as though today's extra furlong would suit. Fearnot was a wide-margin course-and-distance winner in May and must be respected despite a 10lb hike. Fifth Column has hit form since being gelded and landed a Sandown handicap with something in hand. The addition of cheekpieces could unlock more. Consolidation impressed on handicap debut at Goodwood and this extra furlong will suit. La Botte is another with plenty going for him. 5.35 DETAIN can make his Classic class pay dropping back to Group 3 level for the Gosdens. He ended last season with a solid Futurity Stakes run on ground that was much too soft and, after a scoot around Chelmsford in April, left that form behind when a close-up sixth in the French 2,000 Guineas. He improved again when upped to this trip in the French Derby where he was beaten less than a length. That's high-class form and there's more to come. His main danger was a nose behind him at Chantilly - Trinity College for Aidan O'Brien. He went from the front in France and faded in the dying strides. He was the second string last time but has Ryan Moore in the saddle today. Jackknife is a half-brother to Group 1 winner Defoe and made a promising debut at Epsom. He shaped nicely when third in a Listed race at Sandown latest and should improve for stepping beyond a mile for the first time. High Stock has had just two runs, winning the Wood Ditton and then narrowly going down in the Dee Stakes. He's open to improvement and is dangerous. Tornado Alert must be right in the hunt too after his sixth in the Derby when he didn't get home. 6.10 AKKADIAN THUNDER can make a big noise in this red-hot handicap. He was a tidy winner for David O'Meara at Doncaster just 12 days ago, comfortably seeing off Billyjoh — last year's second who is a contender again — and he's only 6lb higher after that excellent effort. He's run well before over this specialists' trip and comes here in flying form for a yard that knows how to land big pots. English Oak has been quiet for a while but is just 1lb higher than when blitzing this 12 months ago — and now gets first-time cheekpieces. He's been popular with ante-post punters. Gleneagle Bay is another with standout recent form, finishing a head third in last month's Victoria Cup despite being away from the main action. He's joined Amo Racing since and goes up just 3lb. Never So Brave was unlucky not to get past Myal at Chester last time, having been hampered late. That followed a good season for Sir Michael Stoute and a midfield run in the Jersey Stakes here. He's unexposed and should run a nice race. Roi De France was one-paced in the Victoria Cup and needs more off just 1lb lower, but he changed hands this week for £380,000 and cheekpieces go on for the first time. 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