Ricky Hatton Tearfully Confesses To Cocaine Addiction,Will Enter Rehab This Week

Former WBA light welterweight champion Ricky Hatton of Manchester, England tearfully confessed to a year-long addiction to cocaine.

In his heart-to-heart talk with his fiancee Jeniffer Dooley, Hatton admitted being addicted to cocaine which is considered in UK as class A drug.The British boxing icon has promised he will enter a rehab clinic next week.

Hatton was caught on video snorting cocaine during a binge drinking session in Manchester, England.

The former welterweight king has reportedly been struggling with life outside the ring. His devastating loss to Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao over a year ago marked the beginning of his involvement in drugs and alcohol.

“I’ve been an idiot and I’m so sorry and ashamed. I need and want to sort myself out", Hatton told his fiancee.

“Ricky is disgusted with himself. He feels he has let himself, his family, his friends and his fans down, said a close friend.

“He has struggled to cope since giving up the fighting. He went from world champion to a retired ex-pro and it is hard for him.

A source close to the former welterweight champion said “He’s now vowed to get himself clean. He’ll go into a rehab clinic very soon and he has the support of Jen and the rest of his family.”

“If he carries on, he’ll kill himself. I’m really, really worried for him. If he tries to make a comeback in the ring, as he’s hinted, he could have a heart attack. “To see him abusing drugs was such a let-down. He was a role model.” said a friend, Emma Bowe.

In one of his sober moments, Hatton said,  "I've been in a bad place for some time. It's all down to me. I feel I have let everyone down especially all my fans in the country who have always supported me.

"I know I've got to make it better. I've now got the biggest fight of my life."

Ricky John Hatton is a British professional boxer from Stockport, Manchester, England. He is a two-time IBF and IBO light welterweight champion and a former WBA light welterweight champion.

Before becoming a professional boxer, Ricky Hatton worked with his parent's carpet business as carpet installer.

Hatton's major fights include welterweight bouts with Floyd Mayweather, Jr which he lost via TKO followed by two successive wins against Juan Lazcano of Mexico and Italian-American Paulie Malignaggi.

Hatton fought Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao in May 2009 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. He lost to Pacquiao via second round KO.

Hatton has not returned to boxing since his devastating loss to Pacquiao 14 months ago.