I was left gutted after doing Ricky Hattons | Boxing News

Former middleweight champion Darren Barker, who carried out the last interview with boxing legend Ricky Hatton, has expressed his deep remorse that their dialog had to come to an end. Barker, 43, was saddened when the Hitman had to depart after a revealing 90-minute podcast, which he totally loved.

The duo sat down for a chat in September, just days before the ex-two-weight world champion was tragically discovered lifeless at his home, leaving the British boxing neighborhood and Manchester in shock. Barker spoke extremely of the Mancunian, who opened up about his journey in the game and his battle with depression. The news of Hatton’s death left the previous fighter heartbroken.

“I remember leaving him after that interview and I was gutted because I enjoyed his company that much,” Barker shared with The Sun.

“I said this at the start of the pod, he was quintessentially Ricky Hatton. He was so funny, so warm towards me and the crew that were there, he was just spot on, he was perfect. And it was so nice to hear all of those stories directly from him.

“He was just a particular person that everybody needed to be around; a great man, a boxing man, a household man, the people’s man and I was gutted that the interview was over.

“I was just gutted. I really am gutted.”

Hatton took satisfaction in his place in boxing historical past, having received his first world title against Kostya Tszyu, and confronted legendary figures such as Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao.

Barker was equally bowled over by the boxer’s rapport with his ardent fanbase, who would observe him from Manchester to Las Vegas.

He said: “He was just that man-next-door, that relationship that he had with his fans.

“When I requested him how he needed to be remembered, he talked about the likes of Frank Bruno and Nigel Benn.

“And his name is in that mix and he was so proud to be alongside those great names.”

During their chat, Hatton disclosed that he had acquired letters from people who had been impressed by his journey to improve their own lives.

“Look at the things I’ve been able to do since,” he said. “Positive things that have inspired others as well as myself because I went to speak to someone.

“That’s my job today. I’m a coach today and if I can move on half of what I have from boxing… some of my boxers come up to me and say, ‘I paid the mortgage off today, Rick’… that’s what it is about.

“If I can go and speak to someone about mental health… when I get letters through the post saying they took on board what I said and I inspired them… it helps other people and it makes me feel good because I’ve helped others.”