BOXINGS GREATEST WORKOUTS
BY GARY TODD
A behind-the-scenes, fly-on-the-wall look at a training day-in-the-life of the world's best boxers
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Gary Todd is a man who walks the walk and has talked the talk with some of the fight game's biggest names.
He is an international author and has been involved in all aspects of the boxing game for over 25 years.
As always, he will do almost anything to get an interview.

I flew into Manchester airport on a wet and windy morning, with my gym bag and some well worn training gear, ready for some serious training with Ricky Hatton and the lads from the Phoenix gym.

I flagged a taxI and off we went to Denton. this was where Billy " The Preacher" Graham had set up his gym . It was a small industrial suburb and for those who watch Inspector Frost on the TV, It is also where the show is shot. I paid the cab driver his 20 quid then walked up the winding stairs of what looked to be an old mill or factory.

Once inside, I spoke with the lady in the gyms cafe and she said she was expecting me which was a good sign. I then proceeded thru the rows of huge barbell racks and into Hatton's gym. As I walked in, everyone stopped and stared, until WBU super featherweight world champion Michael Gomez came over and shook my hand. Everyone else followed on and once that was over, I had a quick chat with Billy Graham and Bobby Rimmer [Hatton's trainers/manager] before getting my training gear on.

We were all warming up and stretching out and Gomez was definitely the character of the bunch, singing , and joking . Ricky Hatton walked in and we shook hands and then he started to get warmed up. what I noticed was there was a great atmosphere and a genuine friendly feeling all round. It reminded me of my old gym and my time in the amateurs.

After ten minutes skipping and shadow boxing, the bell rang for the start of the circuit. It was intense, with Hatton and Gomez taking centre stage on the bag bar, bouncing, springing over the bar before running across to the heavy bag and hammering it to the tune of 150 punches a round. (See my book, " Boxing's greatest workouts" for full workout.)

Once we finished the twelve rounds, some of the lads did some light shadow boxing, some did skipping, but hatton went thru to do some leg weights. I finished with some stretching before getting myself organized for my interview with The Hitman. Here is the interview in full.

Phoenix gym, Manchester, Ricky Hatton, in training for October 1st with Michael Stewart.

GT: Ricky, this is potentially the biggest fight of your career, will you be looking to go out for a quick KO or will you just try to systematically try to break him down, and get some good rounds in?

RH: No not at all. Michael Stewart is a tough fighter and this fight will be tougher fight than a lot of people think. I'll beat him but if there is any openings , I'll take them. I don't get overtime money.

GT: If you beat Stewart and Tszyu beats Mitchell in November, and hangs around at light welter, you will probably face each other sometime in march,
2005, in a mega fight. what would you do differently in the fight that Tszyu's previous opponents did not?

RH: Win! he says with a smile. I would be looking to dictate the pace of the fight and put pressure on him using my high work rate and hopefully get in a few body shots as well.

GT: Tszyu generally fights on the East or West coasts of America, do you think Frank Warren could lure him to Manchester lets say to your beloved Manchester city football stadium. now that would be a boxing event.

RH: Gary I can guarantee, 60,000 fans would turn up for that one. It would be great for me and Kostya. Lets do it.

GT: Ricky, would you be prepared to travel to Australia?

RH: Yes definitely, my dream is to fight in a mega fight in Las Vegas but I would love to go to Sydney or Melbourne to fight. I hear there is a lot of English backpackers out there. To get the big fights, I'll go anywhere. I'm frustrated at the moment. I want to step up and fight these guys. I have spoken to Frank Warren and he has to make it happen.

GT: What about Lovemore Ndou, how do you rate him and would you fight him.?

RH: Yes , Ndou is a warrior who took his chances and put on a good show. he has proved that he will fight anyone so yes, I would love to fight him.

GT: How do you rate Kostya Tszyu, compared with the other names in the top 5.?

RH: He is a fantastic champion, and has fought the best through the years. It will be interesting to see how his inactivity will or will not show against Mitchell. I am sure he will beat Mitchell. He is still the best in the division and that's why I want to fight him.

GT: I have stated on more than one occasion, that I think you are the most exciting champion to come out of the uk since Nigel Benn. the reason is obvious, its your all out attack and aggression, in the ring, but on the other side of the Atlantic and even as far as Australia, a lot has been said about your defensive flaws . do you think this is unfair and do you think your defense is world class?

RH: I am an exciting fighter. It's the way I am. I work on my defense all the time in training and it is improving. I'm not getting cut nearly as much now and what people forget is I can box when I have to and brawl and bang when I have to.

GT: Obviously, you have watched Tszyu's fights. do you think he has any flaws in his arsenal and if so, do you think you could exploit them?

RH: Every fighter has his strengths and his weaknesses. when I fight Kostya, I will exploit them. [he says with a smile]

GT: Ricky, who was your toughest test up to date and why?

RH: Eamonn Magee. He was a awkward southpaw and good counter puncher.
He also knocked me down.

GT: Ricky you have a lot of fans in Australia . What message do you have for them, and also would you like to say anything to Kostya Tszyu.

RH: Firstly, I would just like to say Thank you for your support and that I always like to give the fans a good performance when I fight. my biggest heroes of the ring were guys like Duran, Fenech, and Tyson, and I would love to go down as being as exciting as them.

I don't talk trash about fighters, but I would just say to Kostya that he has said he won't fight me because I'm "not a big time fighter". The truth of it is I am a huge box office fighter and I sell out arenas in minutes. I have the greatest respect for Kostya, and wish him good luck in November. hopefully we can meet.

GT: Ricky Hatton, Thanks for your time and good luck in the future.

RH: Thank you and good luck with your fantastic book around the world.