"It's only been six months since the fight so you can't really call that a retirement of sorts. I think I'm basically just sitting back and having a rest...the last fight was very upsetting for me in the manner and way I lost, so I think once I've had a good rest and recharged the batteries and I've had a nice couple of holidays and I'm busy with me promotion and me speaking and Christmas comes and New Years, I think maybe in the new year, then I think I might start getting itchy feet and I might give it another go," stated former jr. welterweight champion Ricky Hatton as he spoke more about the possibility of his return to the ring. Determined and perhaps a bit stubborn at times, Hatton is confident that he can still compete with the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, including Floyd Mayweather Jr. and his most recent conqueror, Manny Pacquiao.
"As long as they're either a world champion or a fighter that's really up there in the rankings. I think it was very disappointing against Manny Pacquiao. I think I was overtrained a little bit and I think Manny Pacquiao didn't beat Ricky Hatton at his best," he continued in a recent interview with BBC Sport.
Although Hatton has yet to officially make a decision on his career, it's sounding more and more like he's leaning towards a comeback some time in 2010. Given the financial success he had in defeat, it should come as no surprise that the beloved Manchester native is pondering a return to avenge his losses. "Obviously I would like to come back and fight some of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world...I would like to jump in at the deep end again because I think, you know, a fight for me to make a comeback, it would need to be a fight that would excite me and so it would have to be one of the best," Hatton added.
It's good to know that Hatton is contemplating a comeback. Admittedly, I kind of miss him. However, after seeing Jermain Taylor knocked out cold this past weekend, the thought of Hatton stepping back in the ring with Pacquiao or Mayweather seems...well...honestly, I just can't even imagine it. If he is planning a 2010 return, maybe he should lower his expectations; start off easy, perhaps a rematch with Juan Urango, and ease his way back to the top. There are a lot of fights Hatton can make should he return, but a rematch with Pacquiao or Mayweather shouldn't be one of them; not yet anyway.
IS A MAYWEATHER-HATTON REMATCH ON THE HORIZON?
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