Ricky Hatton aims to discover next rags-to-riches story in new boxing competition after kickstarting Tommy Fury’s career

RICKY HATTON will pull no punches as he tries to help guide a British boxer to be the next toe-rag-to-riches story.

The 44-year-old Manchester legend has signed up to manage his proud region in a new-format boxing competition called The Box Off, up against the likes of London, Birmingham and Leeds.

Ricky Hatton is ready to find boxing’s next star on new TV show The Box OffRex

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Hatton helped launch the career of Tommy Fury[/caption]

The competition, backed by the British Boxing Board of Control and starting in September, aims to catapult prospects who have missed out on elite amateur success – or social media Insta-fame – into the mainstream mix.

And Man City’s favourite former world champ – who made his name selling tickets pub-to-pub and winning fights soaked in blood – is the perfect man to push the new premise, especially after helping make Tommy Fury a millionaire and household name, with minimal boxing experience.

“I quite enjoyed going pub-to-pub selling my tickets!”, the working-class hero laughed about his start in the business. “It was fine by me.

“There was no social media or reality TV when I was around but I advised Tommy Fury to go on Love Island because I knew it would create a lot of opportunities for him, on top of being a talented boxer.

“I advised him to get on there to raise his profile, get him some early and easy money and open boxing doors and now it looks like the right move.

“Even though I am old-school and I moan about the best not fighting the best, I hope I am not Victor Meldrew.

“I am working on the show and we are trying to big people up, but if they are s*** I am telling them they are s***!”

Hatton – now the father of a rising pro in Campbell – has repeatedly moved with the times, holding on to his traditional values but adding new-age skills along the way.

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In an industry full of back-stabbing, bragging and bluster, he remains hilariously honest and unnervingly open at times.

They are traits that made him a hero in and outside of the ropes and he hopes to impart some of his knowledge and experience on these young talents – as long as they don’t copy his trademark social media style.

“People should get behind this because it’s pushing small-hall boxing,” he said.

“These days it’s only usually pay-per-views that people promote, if it’s not a world title fight it doesn’t get a push.

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“But there used to be great fights on television, midweek cards where real talent was unearthed. That’s what we are trying to do, we are trying to bring old-school boxing back.

“It’s great having Olympians turn pro and win world titles – that’s brilliant – but there’s nothing better than seeing someone who has come from absolutely nothing reach the very top.

“Because we didn’t have social media, in my time, it was all about the personal touch, which fans like.

“My social media is a mix of me looking after myself and my mental health, looking after my fighters and my kids.

“And then the other side of my posts are absolutely f***ing diabolical!  But it means fans know it’s authentic and coming from me.

“I was fortunate to box on big shows as a young fighter, but I still did the small hall shows and I know what it’s like when you’re just getting going. 

“This can be an opportunity for fighters to catapult themselves onto something better.”