THEY call him the Hitman because he batters opponents. But the wild eyes and wobbly legs prove it's Ricky Hatton who's taken a hit or two this time.
This pitiful picture shows the bloated, sweating boxing star struggling to stay upright as pals carry him from a bar after an all-day bender.
It was taken by a horrified fan in Marbella's Puerto Banus, Spain, a few weeks before yesterday's revelation that Hatton had been filmed snorting cocaine while on yet another marathon binge. The fan said: "It was really sad to see. He was such a mess, sweating and hugely overweight.
"He was obviously wired on something. It might have been just booze but I doubt it.
"By the end he couldn't stand up. He was clinging to his pals as they disappeared into the night."
As the ex-welterweight and light welterweight world champion yesterday pledged to check into rehab, friends said he has been trapped in a cocaine and booze-fuelled haze for MONTHS.
One source said: "His coke problem has been getting ridiculous. This wasn't just one party night out on the town.
"The fact he's being doing cocaine was an open secret among those close to him.
"In a way we're almost relieved he's been caught out because something had to be done. He couldn't go on like that."
Hatton, 31, who was secretly filmed as he snorted cocaine through a rolled-up ฃ20 note, yesterday acknowledged he needed professional help for a problem that had spiralled out of control.
He said: "I've been in a bad place for some time. It's all down to me. I feel I have let everyone down especially all my fans in the country who have always supported me.
"I know I've got to make it better. I've now got the biggest fight of my life."
Spokesman Max Clifford said: "It's become apparent to those closest to him over recent weeks and months that Ricky had a drink problem. Clearly it was worse that that.
"His family are obviously very concerned for him and have become increasingly so.
"Ricky has given them an assurance he will go into rehab in a matter of days.
"I think it is fair to say, friends and family have been trying to warn him in recent times, for the last few months. And now they are all hoping this situation will bring him to his senses."
Mr Clifford said Hatton, who has not fought since losing his title to Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas last May, had found it hard to adjust to life outside the ring.
He added: "Since retirement he has found it very difficult. There has been something missing in his life - boxing.
"In his own words he says he's been in a bad place for some time. Probably before even his last fight. He is very upset and very subdued, very flat."
On the night of his drug shame during a bender in Manchester, Hatton snorted seven lines of cocaine and sank 11 pints of Guinness, four vodkas, two glasses of wine and several sambucas.
Hatton is known for his love of the high-life - a passion that has brought him into contact with party girls including Samii Darnley. Samii is a pal of Wayne Rooney's hooker Jenny Thompson and was herself chatted up by the footballer.
During his benders Hatton sometimes got so hammered he passed out after returning home before he could make it to the front door.
Horrified fiancee Jenny Dooley would find him the next morning lying on the drive of their luxurious home in Hyde, Gtr Manchester. She is said to have told friends: "He's out of control."
One source close to Hatton said: "Jenny has found him spark-out on the driveway several times.
"He was barely able to move and totally incoherent."
Boxing promoter Frank Warren said the binges made nonsense of rumours that Hatton was about to return to the ring.
And he warned that the boxer was setting a terrible example to the young fighters he had started to manage. Mr Warren added: "It's no secret that Ricky's being doing it for a long time.
"The idea of him fighting again is ridiculous. I think the most important thing is that Ricky obviously needs help.
"The other side of things is that the British Board of Boxing Control need to wheel him in and talk to him. Here's a guy that is promoting and managing young fighters. What kind of a message is he sending them?"
Yesterday one of Ricky's confidantes gave a graphic account of how the boxer deteriorates into a stumbling drunk on night's out.
The pal said: "He just gets completely wasted. It's just pint after pint after pint.
"Looking back I suppose he could have been on drugs too because the way he behaved was certainly erratic.
"He can't walk in a straight line. He's not a bad drunk - he's harmless. But people are always having to help him to his feet."
Hatton's dad Ray yesterday pledged his support. He said: "The family are just dealing with it, which is what he needs at the minute. That's all I want to say about it.
Hatton, who has a son of nine, was knocked out in the second round of his title bout against Filipino Manny Pacquiao.
But he has yet to confirm his retirement and even hinted at a return to the ring by recently renewing his boxer's licence with the Boxing Board of Control.
A potential "super-fight" against fellow Briton Amir Khan, the current WBA light-welterweight champion, has been suggested.
Hatton, who was awarded an MBE in 2006, was filmed snorting cocaine at a hotel two weeks ago while on a night out with friend Emma Bowe, 29.
Emma, the Irish national senior women's boxing champion, told the News of the World: "I'm only talking about this because Ricky is a danger to himself. I'm really, really worried for him."
g.patrick@the-sun.co.uk
Source: thesun.co.uk
