AN emotional Ricky Hatton admitted yesterday that the two-year wait to call time on his career drove him “insane”.

Hatton held back the tears in London as he finally announced his decision to hang up his gloves more than two years after his last fight.

Hatton explained just how difficult the last two years had been and admitted he should have thrown in the towel shortly after his defeat to Pacquiao.

“Today is a very sad an upsetting day for me, but I have made the right decision,” Hatton said.

“I have known this decision for some time now and I know I have needed to make it.

“It’s fair to say that it drove me insane.

“I hit rock bottom not too long back because I was holding onto a dream that I never wanted to let go.

“Instead of moving on I spent the last 18 months sulking.

“If I could turn back the clock 18 months I would have done it then.”

The main reason behind Britain’s love affair with Hatton was his ability to connect with the masses.

But he admits there is a tinge of regret that he did not keep to a strict regime that could have seen him become an even greater fighter though.

“If I could turn back the clock I wish I would not have ballooned as much in between fights,” Hatton said.