Amir Khan blasts authorities for stripping ‘down and out’ Hatton of licences

LONDON - Brit boxer Amir Khan has accused the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) of being heartless for taking away former world light-welterweight champion Ricky Hatton’s licences when he is down.

Hatton has been stripped of his licence as a fighter, manager and cornerman after he was secretly filmed snorting cocaine in a hotel room.

It is a savage blow to Hatton who is currently recovering from his addictions in a rehab clinic near Manchester.

“It’s wrong to take away his licences, it’s a very harsh way to treat him over making a stupid mistake. I bet there are footballers and cricketers who have done the same silly things, made the same mistakes as Ricky, but they are still playing their sports, The Sun quoted Khan, as saying.

“It all seems very harsh and it makes the situation around Ricky look 100 times worse than it is. It’s a real shame what happened and I am 100 per cent behind him.”

“He knows he has done wrong, the likes of Ricky and Joe Calzaghe know they have done wrong. After a few drinks we might all do stupid things,” he added.

Hatton was also fined 20,000 pounds at a disciplinary hearing for bringing the sport into disrepute through drug and alcohol abuse.han further said that he is determined not to make the same mistakes as Hatton and Calzaghe.

“It just shows to me that I don’t want to go down the same road. We all learn from our mistakes and I am 100 per cent behind both fighters,” Khan said.

“I won’t let the same things happen to me. I always keep myself busy raising money for charity and keeping involved with my gym in Bolton and my local community,” (ANI)