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Boxing

Ricky Hatton: 'It's very hard to believe a single word that comes out of his mouth'

DAZN
Ricky Hatton: 'It's very hard to believe a single word that comes out of his mouth'GettyImages
The former world champion believes his friend will not quit boxing yet.

Ricky Hatton does not believe Tyson Fury will retire despite his protestations after beating Dillian Whyte on Saturday night.

The WBC heavyweight champion successfully defended his title at Wembley Stadium and in the aftermath suggested he would walk away from the sport, but could be interested in an exhibition fight with UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.

The MMA fighter believes the match-up is more than likely but former world champion Hatton, a friend of Fury, says otherwise.

The duo have had their own tangles with mental health problems and told the BBC: "He said to me: 'Who'd have thought years later that I would be the heavyweight champion of the world and you would be doing an exhibition?'"

Fury’s wife, Paris Fury, believes her husband could be tempted back into the boxing ring if either Oleksandr Usyk or Anthony Joshua are willing to defend the WBO, IBF and WBA belts after their rematch, expected in July.

"I love Tyson but it's very very hard to believe a single word that comes out of his mouth, and I say that with love," Hatton continued.

"He's done himself proud - he has nothing more to prove - but you have to keep setting yourself goals.

"There's Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk. Tyson has proved he's number one but everyone is saying 'who would win out of the three of them?'.

"I don't think Tyson will want to retire until he ticks both them boxes and finds out.

"Tyson, get it done now. I'd rather him not be sat on his settee in three years' time, saying 'I want to fight them now'."

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