I was up for Jungle when TV bosses said try Ice
Hatton faces KO but loves DOI
RICKY Hatton says he wanted a rumble in the jungle but has had to go a few rounds on the ice rink instead.
The former boxing world champ, 45, fancied his chances taking on the campmates in I’m A Celebrity but there were no slots left.
When ITV offered him Dancing On Ice, he initially thought: “Thanks a lot!” But now, even though he is on the ropes and faces being knocked out in the first skate-off tonight, he is glad he accepted the challenge.
And he has already lived up to his
Hitman nickname in a hilarious scene with Stephen Mulhern.
Ricky, who skated in boxing robes with pro partner Robin Johnstone, pretended to land a left jab on the host’s arm and knock him over.
The boxer joked that he would be trying an uppercut next time.
Ricky said: “I am enjoying myself. That thing with Steve was great. They told me to go easy on him as he’d have a thin suit on, rather than a coat. But I thought, well, you want it to be realistic...”
Ricky spoke to fellow boxer Joe Calzaghe about Dancing On Ice, not realising Joe was on Strictly.
Joe told him not to worry as his partner would get him through it.
Ricky said: “When I told him I was doing it on ice, he said, ‘Ricky, you’ll be knackered, mate’. “When you think Dancing On Ice, you think elegance, grace. You don’t think Ricky Hatton. But I have loved the experience so far.”
He was not surprised to be in the skate-off but said: “As long as people have been entertained, and I’ve maybe inspired a few people who, like me, have had mental health struggles in the past, then I’ll take that.”