Hatton felt 'suicidal'

Going into the light-welterweight title bout Hatton harboured hopes of becoming the world's best pound-for-pound boxer, but was knocked down three times in two rounds by the Filipino, who has subsequently cemented his standing as one of the sport's greats with some remarkable performances.

The devastating nature of the defeat sent Hatton into a downward spiral and a battle with drink and drugs, the popular Mancunian boxer told the BBC in an interview.

"I was so down," Hatton said. "I was crying and breaking out and contemplating suicide.

"I was going deeper and deeper into depression. I was going out and having a few drinks. The worst thing you can do with depression is add alcohol to it.

"I needed something to get my backside into gear and pull my finger out. Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom to think, 'Blimey Ricky, get a grip'.

"Depression is a serious thing and, after my defeat to Manny Pacquiao, I contemplated retirement and didn't cope with it very well."

Hatton did not formally announce his retirement until July this year - more than two years after the Pacquiao fight - but did not step into the ring competitively again.

A year ago Hatton was filmed by the News of the World taking cocaine, and the 32-year-old points to the aftermath as the moment he realised the scale of his problems.

"For someone in my position taking drugs once is nothing short of disgraceful," said Hatton.

"The reason behind my actions and the way I was behaving wasn't a drink or drugs thing, it was depression. 

"Half the things I was doing I didn't even read about in the paper. I can't even remember the night it happened - that's what depression does to you.

"I was having blackouts, days on end whether I was drinking or not when I couldn't remember what had happened in my life.

"I thank the News of the World because who knows where it could have ended up."

Hatton went into a rehabilitation centre following the revelations, and believes he is coming to terms with his depression. He now owns promotion company Hatton Boxing.

"A lot of people say, 'I've tried committing suicide' - but there's saying it and doing it and it was coming on a regular basis," Hatton added.

"Depression is a very serious thing. People don't realise how deadly it can be."