It is understood that last night, following a heated argument, the two traded punches outside the Hatton Health and Fitness Gym in Hyde.

Police arrived and arrested 61-year-old Ray Hatton on suspicion of common assault, detained him overnight and cautioned him for his violent behaviour.

Ricky, who turns 34 next month, reportedly wants to press charges over the attack.

Greater Manchester Police said in a statement: "Shortly before 11.45am on Thursday 13 September 2012, police received reports that there had been a fight involving two men outside a health and fitness club on Market Street, Hyde.

"A 33-year-old man was assaulted by a 61-year-old man, who was arrested on suspicion of common assault and subsequently given a police caution.

"The 33-year-old man was not injured in the incident."

The alleged fight follows a period of several months during which, it is claimed, the two have not been on speaking terms and have had at least one other confrontation.

Hatton has suffered a series of well-publicised issues in his private life since his last fight saw him knocked out by Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas, and said that his life "had turned to mush" when talking of dark times in his retirement.

He said: "It's been well documented what's happened to me since the last time you saw me in a boxing ring. I suffered a two-round demolition to Manny Pacquiao in my last fight and nobody wants to see their career end that way.

Consequently it pushed me into retirement which I never really wanted to do, and what happened to me in the last three years came because of what happened to me in that fight and the manner of that defeat."

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