Hatton reveals Olympic regret

Updated 16.25 Wed May 21 2008
Keywords: olympic games, juan lazcano, boxing, ricky hatton, sport

Ricky Hatton has admitted his biggest regret in boxing is missing out on the Olympic Games.

Hatton is returning home this weekend to fight Juan Lazcano at the the City of Manchester Stadium, where he watches his favourite football team Manchester City.

"It is something I will strongly regret but I still stand by the decision" - Ricky Hatton

A victorious homecoming is one of the dreams he is hoping to fulfil before he retires but he admits one ambition has eluded him.

Hatton said: "Some of the proudest moments of your career are when you represent your country for the first time but immediately after the 1996 Olympics I turned 18 so it was another four years to go and I made the decision to turn professional rather than wait another four years.

"Also, the way I trained, I was more suited to the professional game.

"I think it was the sensible move but it's a shame that you are always going to look back and think 'what if?'. It is something I will strongly regret but I still stand by the decision of what I did, the timing just wasn't right."

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