EXCLUSIVE
I was KO’d by Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, but Dancing on Ice is just as terrifying
Ricky Hatton has told talkSPORT that his experience training for his Dancing On Ice debut is comparable to his fight with Floyd Mayweather.
The British boxing legend quit the sport over a decade ago after losses to Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Vyacheslav Senchenko, but has admitted on several occasions that he's struggled with retirement.
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In recent years, he has undergone a stunning body transformation to lose weight and get back into fighting shape.
Hatton took part in an exhibition bout in 2022 and is now relishing a new challenge.
The 46-year-old will make his Dancing On Ice debut on Sunday on ITV after several weeks of training.
"You never thought you'd hear that did you?" Hatton told talkSPORT Breakfast on Friday, "Ricky Hatton on Dancing On Ice. I've been doing it for about nine weeks now.
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"From the first day - for somebody who got punched in the face for a living - to say how daunting it is when you first step on that ice when you've never ever done it before.
"I've never been that scared since I fought Floyd Mayweather.
"Where I am, from the first day to the present day, I really have surprised myself.
"I didn't think I was gonna make it to where I am to be honest."
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Hatton continued: "The fitness hasn't been the problem because for the last two years now I've been doing really well with myself and kept up my fitness.
"I do feel like I've been run over by a train the next day when I get up because it uses bits of muscles that you wouldn't normally use.
"It's totally different to boxing, you've gotta have your feet together so you've got a good, firm base, whereas in boxing you've gotta have your feet apart to have the base.
"It's just little things like that I've had to get used to.
"But I've fully enjoyed it, I struggled with retirement, I thought I was never gonna have that adrenaline rush again walking out to the ring, but I feel like I've got it back.
"I feel like, come Sunday when I'm walking to that ice rink to go on there, I think I'll be equally as nervous, which I've enjoyed to be honest.
"I feel like I'm back in training and I've had to study and knuckle down with it like I used to do when I was fighting, it's been brilliant."
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