ABU DHABI // Ricardo Ricci sat transfixed in the front row, wearing a pair of mini red boxing gloves, listening to his idol.
He is just eight years old, but has been boxing since the age of two with his dad, a former semi-professional back in Italy. The young sports fan first saw Ricky Hatton in his two-round knock-out defeat to the Filipino Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas last year. He learnt an important lesson when the former world boxing champion visited his Al Yasmina School yesterday.
"You have to put a lot of effort into the things you do," said the boy, just before having his gloves signed by the star. "Dad's at work and jealous he couldn't come today."
Hatton was brought to the UAE by the financial consultants deVere and Associates. He is due to speak at another, as-yet unconfirmed, school in Dubai today.
Despite rumours of a comeback, the father-of-one from Manchester, whose nickname is "The Hitman", has been channelling his energies into motivating young people, visiting schools in the UK as well as becoming a manager and promoter to new talent. "I haven't officially announced my retirement," he said yesterday. "Never say never, but I've no desire to get back in the ring now. I might get up one day and feel differently though."
Although his last fight was a humiliating defeat that left Hatton unconscious, there were many who expected his subsequent retirement to be a quick one.
Brutally overworked by his trainer, Floyd Mayweather Snr, the father of the only man before Pacquiao to beat him, Hatton said yesterday: "I was a shell by the time I got in the ring. Everyone was saying I needed to rest, that I was working too hard, but I was beaten by the best."
Now, he hopes to pass on lessons he has learned to the young. Speaking to an audience of about 200 children, as well as their parents and teachers, he urged them to take their school work seriously and aim high.
"Whatever you do in life, you have to give it 100 per cent," he said. "Always believe in yourself and don't let anybody tell you you can't achieve what you want."
Hatton, who was the class clown when a child, said his biggest regret in life was not working harder at school and leaving with no qualifications.
"If I hadn't been successful in boxing, I'd have been nowhere," he said. "Not everyone can be lucky enough to be successful in the things they choose to do. One minute you're at school and having a laugh and before you know it, your school years are over."
In spite of his financial success Hatton, who came from a tough, working-class neighbourhood in Hyde, in the north of England, knows the importance of paying your own way.
"It's a very hard world out there," he told his audience. "Really concentrate and give it your absolute best."
While its violent reputation could prove a hindrance he would like to see boxing brought in as a school activity, emphasising that it helps promote discipline and respect.
"It's about getting people to understand it's not just about the punches," he said. "You learn to respect your gym mates. You learn to be fit and healthy. It's made me a better man, a better person. I'm just fortunate to have made a living from my hobby."
Although by 13 Hatton was already representing his country, he was 17 before he knew he would take boxing to the next level. "My dad and grandad played for Manchester City [Football Club] and for a while, I thought I'd do the same."
He calls being awarded the prestigious MBE (Member of the British Empire) in 2007 from the Queen, for his performance in the ring and charity work outside of it, his biggest achievement.
Al Yasmina's head, Bob Malone, said it was important for the children to meet their heroes in such an intimate setting, to see that they are indeed, "really quite normal".
The former Harlequins rugby player, Dean Richards, the golfer Trevor Immelman and the former Australian cricketer, Rodney Marsh, are among those the school has brought in to speak to the pupils.
"They need to have role models to aspire to," said Mr Malone. "Health and wellbeing is a very important element of the school here and we greatly promote sport and healthy competition."
After his speech, crowds swarmed around Hatton for his autograph of the boxer who lost just two of his 47 fights.
Chloe Lawson, 12, from England, said: "You can achieve your goals if you work hard."
Teaching in coronavirus times
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Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
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Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
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Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
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Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
THE SPECS
Cadillac XT6 2020 Premium Luxury
Engine: 3.6L V-6
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 310hp
Torque: 367Nm
Price: Dh280,000
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
Stormy seas
Weather warnings show that Storm Eunice is soon to make landfall. The videographer and I are scrambling to return to the other side of the Channel before it does. As we race to the port of Calais, I see miles of wire fencing topped with barbed wire all around it, a silent ‘Keep Out’ sign for those who, unlike us, aren’t lucky enough to have the right to move freely and safely across borders.
We set sail on a giant ferry whose length dwarfs the dinghies migrants use by nearly a 100 times. Despite the windy rain lashing at the portholes, we arrive safely in Dover; grateful but acutely aware of the miserable conditions the people we’ve left behind are in and of the privilege of choice.
What is type-1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a genetic and unavoidable condition, rather than the lifestyle-related type 2 diabetes.
It occurs mostly in people under 40 and a result of the pancreas failing to produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugars.
Too much or too little blood sugar can result in an attack where sufferers lose consciousness in serious cases.
Being overweight or obese increases the chances of developing the more common type 2 diabetes.
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
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Day 2, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dinesh Chandimal has inherited a challenging job, after being made Sri Lanka’s Test captain. He responded in perfect fashion, with an easy-natured century against Pakistan. He brought up three figures with a majestic cover drive, which he just stood and admired.
Stat of the day – 33 It took 33 balls for Dilruwan Perera to get off the mark. His time on zero was eventful enough. The Sri Lankan No 7 was given out LBW twice, but managed to have both decisions overturned on review. The TV replays showed both times that he had inside edged the ball onto his pad.
The verdict In the two previous times these two sides have met in Abu Dhabi, the Tests have been drawn. The docile nature of proceedings so far makes that the likely outcome again this time, but both sides will be harbouring thoughts that they can force their way into a winning position.
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures:
Monday, 1st 50-over match
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match
The Al Barzakh Festival takes place on Wednesday and Thursday at 7.30pm in the Red Theatre, NYUAD, Saadiyat Island. Tickets cost Dh105 for adults from platinumlist.net
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 4 (Gundogan 8' (P), Bernardo Silva 19', Jesus 72', 75')
Fulham 0
Red cards: Tim Ream (Fulham)
Man of the Match: Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City)
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
SUZUME
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Brief scores:
Juventus 3
Dybala 6', Bonucci 17', Ronaldo 63'
Frosinone 0
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners