Boxer scared of cats

Ricky Hatton has revealed he is scared of cats.

The light welterweight world champion said he even changes the route of his training run to avoid cats.

He said his phobia stems from being scratched down his face by a cat as a baby.

According to The Sun he added: "I have been frightened of them ever since. The sight of them still makes me feel a bit ill.

"There is an alleyway I cut down on my training runs, but a few times I have reached it and seen a couple of cats down there and ran on for an extra half a mile just to avoid them."

Hatton is due to fight WBA champ Carlos Maussa in Sheffield on November 26.