Ricky Hatton's long-time trainer Billy Graham has rounded on the critics who spread rumours of bad blood and bust-ups in the wake of the Manchester fighter's defeat to Floyd Mayweather in December.
Graham insists his decade-long bond with Hatton remains as strong as ever despite allegations to the contrary following the knockout defeat, Hatton's first of his 44-fight professional career.
The trainer will be back in Hatton's corner for his homecoming at the City of Manchester Stadium against Juan Lazcano on Saturday night. And he says both himself and Hatton will prove the doubters wrong.
Graham said: ‘I heard some terrible rumours but there was nothing in them whatsoever. Why would it be anything? Why would there be any reason for Ricky to get rid of me? It was ridiculous.’
Graham stayed in the United States for a number of weeks immediately following the Mayweather loss, but insists the extended post-fight split is a natural occurrence which has been happening throughout Hatton's career.
And the trainer admits that although he went through some ‘dark days’ in the wake of the Las Vegas fight, he never doubted for a moment that either himself or Hatton would bounce back to the top.
Graham added: ‘I was really depressed for weeks. I shut myself away and thought about the fight. But I never doubted myself or Ricky. Not for a single moment.
‘Eventually I got rid of the hangover. You take the time off, and as soon as you get another fight date and opponent, it's back to business. Back to work. You put it all behind you.’
Graham is clearly angry about the criticism Hatton received for some aspects of his performance against Mayweather, and what he sees as a growing campaign to discredit both his and his fighter's achievements.
‘I might not have doubted myself or Ricky, but I doubted some other people,’ added Graham. ‘People I thought were friends, but who had the knives out. After that fight, there are a lot of people who I never want to speak to again.
‘People forget that Ricky is still the linear light-welterweight champion of the world. He didn't lose that title in the ring that night, he stepped up in weight to fight a great champion.
‘The more I see the fight the more I blame the referee. Joe Cortez used to be a friend but now I wouldn't shake his hand. He stopped Ricky from fighting.
‘If Ricky fought Mayweather again, without Cortez, I'm convinced he would win.’
