The gloves are off as Ricky Hatton’s solicitor Gary Williams is attempting to put boxing promoter Frank Warren down for the count by suing him for libel. The two are set to square off after an objection was raised to an article written by Warren in the Sun, entitled “Fatty Ricky should give it up”, which according to Williams, claims that he persuaded Hatton to take a fight that could result in permanent injury because of his unhealthy lifestyle.

Hatton is renowned for being a heavyweight both in and out of the ring, unable to resist guzzling on take-aways, pies and hefty portions of Guinness between fights. However, unlike his glass jawed solicitor, he has shown a greater willingness to roll with the punches and, as his fat suit entrance stunt shows, can see the funny side of his rather portly physique.

In his writ to the High Court, Williams claims that the piece seriously injured his “personal and professional reputation” and caused “acute distress and embarrassment”. Thus Warren finds himself in the opposite corner for this bout, having previously won £115,000 damages for defamatory allegations made against him in Hatton’s autobiography.