Ricky Hatton's Playboy model pal Carla Howe slams boxer's claims as he ... trends now
Ricky Hatton's Playboy model pal Carla Howe has taken aim at the former boxer after he rubbished her claims of their friendship.
Carla and Ricky exchanged some flirtatious text messages after meeting in 2021 before he hinted at taking her on holiday to Tenerife.
The retired sportsman, 45, who is now dating his former Dancing on Ice co-star Claire Sweeney, 52, also offered to take Carla on a night out in Manchester and continued to message her, but she insists she was never interested in him romantically.
Glamour girl Carla kept in touch with Ricky, asking him to offer her some advice after she signed up to face former Love Islander AJ Bunker in a KSI-promoted MisFits boxing match in Sheffield in October 2022, which was eventually called off.
Ricky invited her to his gym, where they sparred in the ring and posed for pictures, some of which Ricky could be seen taking on a mobile phone.
Ricky Hatton's Playboy model pal Carla Howe has taken aim at the former boxer after he rubbished her claims of their friendship (Ricky and Carla pictured in his gym)
The retired sportsman, 45, is now dating his former Dancing on Ice co-star Claire Sweeney, 52, after they both appeared on this year's series of the figure skating show
However, after Carla spoke out this week on Ricky's new romance with actress Claire, saying she was pleased for the couple but the soap star needed to be wary of his 'wandering eye', the ex boxer's friendship with Carla was dismissed.
A representative for Ricky told MailOnline Carla and the boxer were never in a relationship, stating: 'Ricky was approached by Carla Howe on a night out for a photograph.
'Some time later she messaged Ricky could she have a training session and get some boxing advice as she was scheduled to take part in a boxing contest. She did come to the gym with a professional photographer.
'She later messaged Ricky to see if he would get involved in the promotion, which he declined. I wish to point out that they never dated and were not in a relationship and any suggestion to the contrary is factually incorrect.'
While Carla agrees she and Ricky never dated, she insists there was more to their connection than a chance meeting and a brief session in the gym.
Carla told MailOnline: 'I went to Ricky’s gym alone after he had me picked up by his personal driver. There was no professional photographer, it was Ricky taking all my pictures as well as another trainer at his gym.
'He sent some flirty messages and hinted at going on holiday to Tenerife. He also invited me for a night out in Manchester. Both times I changed the subject.
'He kept trying to meet up but I wasn’t interested romantically, just friends. I suggested meeting at the gym as I wanted to learn boxing. This was before I did any professional boxing myself.
Carla and Ricky exchanged some flirtatious text messages after meeting in 2021 before he invited her to train at his gym
The pair sparred in the ring and posed for pictures, some of which Ricky could be seen taking on a mobile phone (pictured) despite claims she brought a professional photographer with her
'He sent me loads of advice but I think he just didn’t like that I wasn’t interested romantically. He’s a nice guy but just not my type.
'I asked him if he wanted to be involved in a boxing match I was involved in. He’s now said he declined but the
