RICKY Hatton has ended months of speculation about his future with trainer Billy Graham by revealing the pair are to split with immediate effect, bringing an end to one of the most successful partnerships in British boxing history.
Hatton will be without Graham in his corner for the first time in his career when he challenges New York's Paulie Malignaggi for the IBF light- welterweight title in Las Vegas on 22 November.
Hatton joined Graham's Phoenix Camp gym in Salford i
n his late teens and turned professional at the age of 18. With Graham, he plotted a course which led to a multi-million pound fortune and world titles at two different weights. But pressure mounted on Graham following the manner of Hatton's first career defeat to Floyd Mayweather last December, amid speculation that splits in the camp and Graham's health concerns had hampered progress.
Last month, Hatton's younger brother Matthew announced he was to split with Graham, effectively signalling the end for the trainer, who will retire from the sport after a low-key show in Watford on Friday night.
Hatton's father Ray said: "Ricky and Billy had a meeting yesterday in which Billy admitted he was not going any further. It was quite emotional because they have been together for so long. It's a sad day.
But everybody knew Billy had been struggling in recent years with a few health problems and it was becoming increasingly painful for him to train Ricky.
"We knew the bombshell was coming."
Ray Hatton denied claims of an acrimonious end to the partnership, despite the fighter's repeated claims in the past that Graham would remain in his corner throughout his career.
Hatton's father added: "When most fighters suffer their first defeat the first thing they do is sack the trainer. It is a mark of how strong their bond was that such a thing never crossed Ricky's mind.
"Instead they got back into training for Ricky's tough homecoming fight against Juan Lazcano. It was a very difficult night for both of them but it's great that Billy went out on a winning note."
Hatton will begin serious training for the Malignaggi fight once he returns from holiday and it is expected Graham's assistant Lee Beard will be the chief cornerman for the fight against the New Yorker.
Graham confirmed that his job in the corner of Watford journeyman Ojay Abrahams on Friday night would be his last.
Graham said: "I am proud to go out of boxing like this. It is a great way for me to go out of the sport that I love, and still love. Ojay is a real pro and we are good friends. It is the real way to go out for a guy like me."
The full article contains 465 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
