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Ricky Hatton splits with trainer Graham

29/07/2008

Ricky Hatton is to part company with his long-time trainer Billy Graham, his father has announced.

Graham has trained the Manchester boxer for 11 years but will retire from the sport following Ojay Abrahams's fight in Watford on Friday.

"Ricky and Billy had a meeting on Monday in which Billy admitted he was not going any further," Ray Hatton said.

"It was quite emotional because they've been together so long. It's a sad day.

"Billy will always be remembered as one of the world's great trainers and to go out after a win in front of 58,000 people in Manchester would be a fitting end to his career," he added.

"But everybody knew Billy had been struggling in recent years with a few health problems and it was becoming increasingly painful for him to train Ricky.

"We knew the bombshell was coming and it was just a question of when."

Hatton is likely to be trained by Graham's assistant Lee Bear for his title fight against Paulie Malignaggi in November.