Ricky Hatton's fiancee
Jennifer collapses in tears as he suffers brutal knock-out in Las Vegas
by Andy Dolan, 03rd
May 2009
Her face contorted with grief, the fiancee of boxer Ricky Hatton watches helpless as he lies unconscious in the ring.
Jennifer Dooley had let out a horrified scream when 30-year-old Hatton was floored for the third time by his Filipino opponent Manny Pacquiao.
She then endured an agonising three minutes as the star nicknamed the Hitman lay out cold on the canvas before eventually being revived.
Miss Dooley, 30, was comforted by her friend Jenna Coyne--the girlfriend of Hatton's younger brother Matthew, also a boxer, who had earlier won his own bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The brothers' parents Ray and Carol were beside the two girlfriends. Also in the crowd were celebrities including Jack Nicholson, Mariah Carey, Denzil Washington, rapper Jay-Z, British boxer Amir Khan, Russell Brand and P. Diddy.
Although Hatton's father insisted he was 'perfectly all right' after hospital checks, the severity of the beating he took raises inevitable fears about his long-term health.
Miss Dooley, who left her job as a lecturer at
Manchester College of Art and Technology to support Hatton ahead of his only previous defeat in 2007, will no doubt be among those now urging him to retire.
The second-round defeat cost him his world light-welterweight title but he is believed to have earned around £12million for his six minutes of work yesterday, taking his career earnings close to £40million.
He has bought a £750,000 home near the four-bedroom semi where he lives with Miss Dooley in Hyde, Greater Manchester.
The couple met at the age of five when they were primary school classmates. They were reintroduced in 2004 through Miss Coyne.
Miss Dooley, who has a marketing degree from Manchester Metropolitan Business School, has spoken in the past of the couple's close friendship with Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney and wife Coleen.
She said the foursome enjoyed sharing takeaways at their homes.
Hatton started out as a carpet fitter in the family business before becoming a professional boxer in 1997.
His father gave up work to concentrate on managing him.
Ray Hatton admitted yesterday that his son's fighting career was now in doubt.
'Obviously we will support him in whatever he does,' he said. 'At this time he's probably got a few mixed feelings about it. He'll make that decision whichever way he wants to and the family will support him.'
Hatton is expected to become a boxing promoter after hanging up his gloves. He has already set up his own promotions company, and also has his own lucrative range of clothing and other merchandise bearing his name.
Ricky Hatton's fiancee Jennifer collapses in tears as he suffers brutal knock-out in Las Vegas
by Andy Dolan, 03rd May 2009
Her face contorted with grief, the fiancee of boxer Ricky Hatton watches helpless as he lies unconscious in the ring.
Jennifer Dooley had let out a horrified scream when 30-year-old Hatton was floored for the third time by his Filipino opponent Manny Pacquiao.
She then endured an agonising three minutes as the star nicknamed the Hitman lay out cold on the canvas before eventually being revived.
Miss Dooley, 30, was comforted by her friend Jenna Coyne--the girlfriend of Hatton's younger brother Matthew, also a boxer, who had earlier won his own bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The brothers' parents Ray and Carol were beside the two girlfriends. Also in the crowd were celebrities including Jack Nicholson, Mariah Carey, Denzil Washington, rapper Jay-Z, British boxer Amir Khan, Russell Brand and P. Diddy. Although Hatton's father insisted he was 'perfectly all right' after hospital checks, the severity of the beating he took raises inevitable fears about his long-term health.
Miss Dooley, who left her job as a lecturer at Manchester College of Art and Technology to support Hatton ahead of his only previous defeat in 2007, will no doubt be among those now urging him to retire.
The second-round defeat cost him his world light-welterweight title but he is believed to have earned around £12million for his six minutes of work yesterday, taking his career earnings close to £40million.
He has bought a £750,000 home near the four-bedroom semi where he lives with Miss Dooley in Hyde, Greater Manchester.
The couple met at the age of five when they were primary school classmates. They were reintroduced in 2004 through Miss Coyne.
Miss Dooley, who has a marketing degree from Manchester Metropolitan Business School, has spoken in the past of the couple's close friendship with Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney and wife Coleen.
She said the foursome enjoyed sharing takeaways at their homes.
Hatton started out as a carpet fitter in the family business before becoming a professional boxer in 1997.
His father gave up work to concentrate on managing him.
Ray Hatton admitted yesterday that his son's fighting career was now in doubt.
'Obviously we will support him in whatever he does,' he said. 'At this time he's probably got a few mixed feelings about it. He'll make that decision whichever way he wants to and the family will support him.'
Hatton is expected to become a boxing promoter after hanging up his gloves. He has already set up his own promotions company, and also has his own lucrative range of clothing and other merchandise bearing his name.