RICKY HATTON admits his determination to finish at the top convinced him to return to the ring following his tworound destruction by Manny Pacquiao last year.
The popular Manchester ‘Hitman’, who admitted back in September he expected to lace on the gloves again, confirmed yesterday he will have at least one more bout before calling it a day.
The 31-year-old has not boxed since the Pacquiao loss in Las Vegas last May but insists he will fight ‘‘a top-ten ranked pound-for-pound fighter or a world champion of some sort’’ this summer.
The two-weight world champion said: ‘‘I’ve decided to make a comeback and have another fight this year – probably round about the summertime.
‘‘There’s been no opponent that has been confirmed yet.
There’s been no date confirmed yet. But the point is I have made my mind up I am going to have one more fight.
‘‘I’ve had a good break, a good time off, a good time to reflect and put that last fight behind me and really get over it and get my mind straight.’’ Possible opponents include Juan Manuel Marquez and Amir Khan but Hatton himself suggested a rematch with Colombian IBF light-welterweight champion Juan Urango – who he beat in 2007 – is a consideration.
It is understood there is a strong possibility Hatton’s return could be staged in England, though a showdown with Khan remains unlikely while he is promoted by Frank Warren.
‘‘We’re looking at the IBF champion Juan Urango, who I’ve already fought and beaten,’’ Hatton said.
‘‘It’s got to be a top-ten ranked pound-for-pound fighter or a world champion of some sort.
‘‘I’ve boxed at such a high level and I could not have one more fight and people look at me and go ’he’s just had this fight to knock someone over and end on top’. I want people to say ’give Ricky his credit – he finished at the top’.’’ For the moment, Hatton is not looking any further ahead than one more fight.
‘‘I’m going to have one more fight, maybe two more – it all depends on the performance of the first fight,” he said.
“It’s always hard coming back from a defeat.”
Hatton will head to Australia on holiday next week and plans to start getting in shape immediately on his return.
‘‘I go on holiday next week with my girlfriend to Australia and then when I come back, even though I haven’t got a date yet, I’m going to go straight into training because weight-wise I have had a little bit more to carry than I normally do,’’ he said.
‘‘So I’m going to go straight in training, shed the weight and then, when the date comes, do my usually 12-week training camp.’’
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here