FORMER world champion boxer Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton said the welcome he received as guest of honour at an event in Cwmbran “will live long in the memory”.

A sell-out audience of 250 made their way to the Parkway Hotel & Spa for The Events Room’s ‘Boxing Dinner of the Year’.

Hatton never fought in Wales during a glittering 15-year, 48-fight professional career, but he still has plenty of fight fans in the principality.

The 40-year-old was given a great reception as he walked in to Blue Moon, the song he used for his ring walk, and it didn’t take long for strains of ‘There’s only one Ricky Hatton’ from the crowd.

Hatton began by praising the late Enzo Calzaghe who he described as “one of the best trainers of his generation”, adding he had “total respect for a great man of the boxing world”.

He then went on to describe his WBA world welterweight title victory over Luis Collazo in May 2006 as one of the major highlights of his career.

Hatton, who won world titles at both welterweight and light-welterweight, was given a rapturous standing ovation when he finished speaking.

A trainer and promoter since hanging up his gloves in 2012, Stockport-born Hatton hailed a “fantastic evening” and thanked both The Events Room and Parkway Hotel & Spa for putting on a great event.

He added: “The welcome we received from Welsh fans will live long in the memory.”