Walking up to the big old buildings in Denton – you’d never guess it was home to one of the greatest boxing trainers – Billy “The Preacher” Graham, or that a Boxing World Champion was training inside for the fight of his life.
Strolling through Kerry Kayes’s “Betta Bodies’ Gym, muscular guys were working out on the many fitness machines spanning the length of the gym. When I walked through to Billys “place’ – “The Preacher” greeted me and we chatted about iguana’s, of all things! Knowing that Billy was a keen reptile-fan, I was disappointed not to see any pets in the office.
I’ve been to the Phoenix Gym on a media day in the past – but today was a different story. Today, I was going to photograph and interview Ricky Hatton and this time I didn’t have to battle my way through 40-50 people for a decent spot.
Ricky began his work-out. Jumping back and to over the bar – he seemed to clear it by a couple of feet he had so much spring in his step! I didn’t count – but he must have jumped over twenty or so times before going over to the punchbags where he pounded away shouting with each punch until the bell signalled the end of three minutes.
“That’s easy” – he said, gesturing to the bar. A quick swig of water and he’s back over the bar again. He repeats this routine a number of times, occasionally throwing something at Kerry or making a funny comment.
Later, donning a sweat suit, Ricky moved on to the weight machines in the Betta Bodies gym. But he spotted one of Kerry’s body-builders – Brian Connelly, posing for a photographer and quickly he took his shirt off, pulled his tracksuit bottoms up to his chest and stood alongside the muscle-bound guy trying to pose and laughing at the same time!
Kerry gave instruction on the weights he wanted Ricky to work on, and today that meant working on arms, shoulders and chest. Once Ricky finished the weights, he went off to get changed and we agreed to meet in the cafe area so that I could ask him some questions.
As he put the final touches on his last workout before facing Jose Luis Castillo in front of 10,000 screaming British fans at the Thomas and Mack Center in Vegas >
Final training photos of Ricky Hatton as he prepared for his Fight Academy boxing promoted unification clash with WBA Carlos Maussa on the 26th of November in Sheffield, England.
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One of the world's top trainers, Roger Mayweather, spoke to the media at the last workout by the legendary Mexican banger, Jose Luis Castillo, who will face off with the >
Ricky Hatton v Carlos Maussa Hallam F.M. Arena, Sheffield, Saturday 26th November 2005.
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Ray Hatton has been busy managing the careers of his sons Ricky and Matthew Hatton as they prepare for their Las Vegas debuts on January 20. Ricky will challenge >
