Ricky Hatton returns to the boxing ring

[tototoner]

On 24 Nov , in Manchester

BBC

Former world champion Ricky Hatton says he will fight again, more than three years since his last bout.

"It's more than a comeback," said the Manchester-based boxer at a news conference on Friday.

The 33-year-old retired last year with a record of 45 wins and two defeats.

But Hatton, who held the WBA and IBF light-welterweight and WBA welterweight titles, has decided to return, with a fight scheduled to take place against an unnamed opponent on 24 November.

Hatton, nicknamed "The Hitman", has not fought since suffering a second-round knockout by Manny Pacquiao in May 2009.

Hatton was stripped of his licence to box in 2010 after admitting using cocaine.
But he appeared before the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) in Cardiff on Wednesday to ask for it back.

BBBoC general secretary Robert Smith said Hatton looked "very well" and seems to have "sorted himself out".
"From what he was saying, he seems very settled with his family," Smith added. "He has already had some of the medicals and we are making sure he's on track."

Hatton dominated the light-welterweight division, his most notable win coming against IBF champion Kostya Tszyu in 2005.

The following year, the Briton defeated Puerto Rican Luis Collazo to take the WBA world welterweight title and followed that victory by beating Juan Urango to reclaim his IBF light-welterweight title.

He lost to American five-division world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2007 and suffered a comprehensive beating by Pacquiao in his final fight three years ago.

 

[spursontheloose]

Got a feeling he's gonna get his arse handed to him.

 

[tototoner]

personally I think he'll fight a relative unknown in his 1st comeback fight and win easy, I then hope he takes on Amir Khan and hammers him

 

[mpickard2087]

Havent seen much of Hatton recently but I'd be amazed if he has kept himself in good shape since leaving the ring. I dont think this will go well. An easy fight I imagine to start with but cant see him getting back up there with the best.

 

[hans]

Havent seen much of Hatton recently but I'd be amazed if he has kept himself in good shape since leaving the ring. I dont think this will go well. An easy fight I imagine to start with but cant see him getting back up there with the best.

he has been getting back into shape over the last few months, he was 200lbs - now down to around 165ish apparently. We'll have to see how his tune up fight goes, but I still think he'd beat everyone at JWW, maybe apart from Matthyse. .

 

[Hitch]

It'll be like the boxing equivalent of a testimonial. He'll fight a no hoper that he can at least look half-decent against and put on a show for the fans. Then he'll say a proper goodbye and ride off into the sunset. I think that's the plan anyway.

Though a large part of the reason why he's doing this is because he wants to go out in a way that doesn't involve him laying flat on his back (Pacquiao haunts him every night I'm sure), I don't believe that it would be happening if not for the fact that Hatton Promotions are going through a rough patch. They've lost a lot their best fighters, Sky have recently dumped them and the slope has only been looking downwards from here. The best way to give HP a shot in the arm is for Ricky to get back into the ring himself. The company was at it's strongest when he was still active and now, for a temporary period, it will attract the TV and fighter support necessary to get going again. Sky are already in talks to get back on board with him from what I hear.



Edit: Just seen the press conference and he's talking about winning world titles. Wants a fight against a "ranked" opponent. Presumably he means the WBU or IBO for which cab drivers and plumbers can be "rated." If he means one of the other belts then...well, deary me. This could end badly. He wants to fight again so that he can erase the memories of being left flat on his back by Pac, but then what happens when he's left flat on his back again? Another comeback? Vicious cycle.

 

[Hitch]

he has been getting back into shape over the last few months, he was 200lbs - now down to around 165ish apparently. We'll have to see how his tune up fight goes, but I still think he'd beat everyone at JWW, maybe apart from Matthyse. .

You think so? I think he'd get absolutely mullered by all of the top light welters. Matthyse would flat out murder him. At Hatton's age and with his fighting style (not to mention lifestyle) three and a half years out of the ring and out of the gym is far too long a period to come back from and expect to challenge at the top end. A few fighters at the heavier weights have pulled it off to varying degrees, but the lower you go the more difficult it becomes.

Erik Morales's comeback has gone ok-ish I suppose, but then I'd say that he is technically better equipped than Hatton is for it. Also his punch resistance doesn't appear to have faded in quite the same way the way that Ricky's has. Even then though Morales isn't beating anyone inside the top 20. However, so long as Ricky doesn't plan on aiming for that sort of level I think he should be ok. It would be a very stupid thing for him to start thinking of World titles (unless perhaps it's the IBO or some other such guff).

 

[hans]

You think so? I think he'd get absolutely mullered by all of the top light welters. Matthyse would flat out murder him. At Hatton's age and with his fighting style (not to mention lifestyle) three and a half years out of the ring and out of the gym is far too long a period to come back from and expect to challenge at the top end. A few fighters at the heavier weights have pulled it off to varying degrees, but the lower you go the more difficult it becomes.

Erik Morales's comeback has gone ok-ish I suppose, but then I'd say that he is technically better equipped than Hatton is for it. Also his punch resistance doesn't appear to have faded in quite the same way the way that Ricky's has. Even then though Morales isn't beating anyone inside the top 20. However, so long as Ricky doesn't plan on aiming for that sort of level I think he should be ok. It would be a very stupid thing for him to start thinking of World titles (unless perhaps it's the IBO or some other such guff).

Yes I do, like i said lets see how his tune up goes. I could see him smacking khan about, at this point in time id rather put my money on ricky if them two fought. . Who else is there at JWW? Maidana is up at WW now i think, Garcia isnt an elite boxer and yes he beat a shot Morales - but up until about round 6/7, that fight was competitive. I could see ricky beating either of them. I forgot JMM fights at JWW now, ok thats one ricky would lose. Otherwise who is there? I think we've been a bit blinded by the guys Amir fought, they weren't all that. Maidana, Peterson (banned??), Garcia, Zab was way past it, Mccloskey. He would beat Zab, and be competitive against the rest.

 

[haxman]

I don't see him being able to make light welterweight again.

Good luck to him if he wants to make a comeback, personally I think he could beat Paulie Malignaggi again for the welterweight title if given a shot at him.

Much prefer to see someone come back at a reasonable age than legends like Roy Jones and Evander Holyfield fight on long after their time and risk serious injury and ruin their legacies.

I will definitely be watching his fights, much prefer his style than boring fighters like the Klitschkos.

 

[class of 62]

think theres 3 fights out there for him!.. first a title shot v pauly, then 2 high end domestic fights with kell brook & amir khan imho!
i do beleive he's come back to go out as a winner & finance doesnt really come into his return!.. i do think if he tries to mix it again with manny or mayweather or one or any of the very good young welters making the divsion very strong he'll be dissappointed.

the crowds especially the americans love his all action style & at the moment theres not many entertainers out there in the boxing world .. personally have mixed views..but ricky knows his own body & mind so good luck to him & i would pay to watch him fight again without question.

 

[beats1]

IMO he shouldnt be boxing otherwise he may do some damage to himself that will affect him for the rest of his life

 

[dontcallme]

I find it hard to believe that he can live the lifestyle he lives and come back after all this time and compete for world titles.

Fair play to him for trying and I'll watch his fights.

 

[hans]

anyone catch the boxing last night? There were a few big fights on. Martinez/Chavez jr was a one sided beating until the 12 round when Chavez knocked down and nearly stopped Martinez, and he probably shouldve stopped him but seemed to gas himself. Seeing as Manny is fighting JMM again in Dec, hopefully Floyd will try for Martinez at 154lb - but looks like we're going to see a Martinez/JCC jr rematch instead.

 

[Hitch]

[quote="hans, post: 3002884, member: 615]Yes I do, like i said lets see how his tune up goes. I could see him smacking khan about, at this point in time id rather put my money on ricky if them two fought. . Who else is there at JWW? Maidana is up at WW now i think, Garcia isnt an elite boxer and yes he beat a shot Morales - but up until about round 6/7, that fight was competitive. I could see ricky beating either of them. I forgot JMM fights at JWW now, ok thats one ricky would lose. Otherwise who is there? I think we've been a bit blinded by the guys Amir fought, they weren't all that. Maidana, Peterson (banned??), Garcia, Zab was way past it, Mccloskey. He would beat Zab, and be competitive against the rest.[/quote]

Didn't get around to answering this the other day.

Four years ago (well maybe a bit less - Khan hadn't peaked then) Hatton vs Khan would have been a competitive and interesting fight, but the thing is we're not talking about the Hatton of four years ago, we're talking about the Hatton of now. A soon to be 34 year old Hatton who hasn't even been in the gym through the majority of those missing years. Khan would run absolute rings around him. Ricky's style was never one that was built to last. That kind of pressure fighter never hangs around too long. They either adapt or they die. Unfortunately in Ricky's case I don't believe that he ever had (or has) quite the technical range to do the prior.

As for who at 140 would beat him? Well most of note I would expect - Matthyse, Garcia, Khan, Alvarado, Peterson, Soto, Rios, etc. I think those are a given though. I'd be very surprised if he could even push those on the next rung down at this point - Judah, Maidana (should he come back down), Olesugun, Funeka, Guzman, Holt, even McCloskey. Besides, all that's a bit mute anyway because Hatton's coming back as a welterweight - a division that he struggled with even at his peak. Forgetting the elite two, I'd be stunned not to see him steam rollered by any of Guerrero, Ortiz, Bradley, Berto, Alexander, Zaveck, Brook, even Vargas or the Jones's - Carson and Mike. Maybe Ricky could fight Magic Matt? That would be competitive. Would expect Matt to take the win at this point mind.

Going on what Ricky's been saying it seems likely that the optimum target for him is a Malignaggi rematch. That makes sense. Ricky's beaten him before and Paulie is about the most feather fisted fighter that is decently rated at any weight, let alone welter (and Rick should certainly be avoiding big punchers at this juncture). Better still, Paulie has managed to nab himself an alphabet title. I actually don't believe that this old, rusted version of Hatton would win a rematch (even as easy as the original fight was) but it's certainly not impossible, and he could at the very least go the full 12 rounds and thus potentially paint the fight as a valiant elderly-Balboa style loss (I'm not being facetious here). I think it's safe to expect that he will not be going near any big punchers during this comeback so Malignaggi should represent about the pinnacle of his ambitions at this point. Anything more would be truly foolish.


I was reasonably supportive of Hatton returning originally, dumbly believing that he planned on having maybe one or two fights against minor opposition, with the primary intention being to end his career valiantly on his feet rather than unconscious on his back as against Pac. It would represent a proper goodbye to the fans as well - a bit like a testimonial. Now however, he's talking about world titles and big names and, well, frankly it makes him sound like a bit of a pillock. It's reminiscent of the delusions that he had about making a Mayweather rematch in order to rectify the as yet unidentified "one" fatal mistake that cost him that fight. However, hopefully this is all subterfuge and he's planning the WBU/IBO faux route. I'm sure that Sky will play along as they did with Matt's ill-fated quest towards an N'Dou draw.

Incidentally, you say that Morales is shot, but if Hatton can come back anywhere close to as well as El Terrible has then I'll be impressed. Actually I reckon that would be darned a good fight itself. If they could make the weight work then I'd quite like to see it. Would be a good way for both to go out. Only after Ricky has sharpened up a bit against a couple of domestic level guys though.

 

[Hitch]

So far as Saturday night's fights go, Martinez put on a total masterclass for 11 rounds but what happened in that 12th could have gone down as one the most amazing moments in recent boxing history had Chavez pulled it off. The Meldrick Taylor comparison would have been uncanny. I think Sergio basically got a bit too cocksure and in his zeal for a late stoppage he let himself get caught out. That said he came back from the two knockdowns well and ended the round strong. He's probably my favourite fighter to watch at the current time.

A rematch would be bloody dumb, because it's perfectly clear who the better fighter was. However, this is the as ever illogical and political sport of boxing, so I'm sure that it will happen nevertheless. Chavez did just about enough in that last round for Arum to have an angle to sell it on, and I don't suppose that Dibella will turn the rematch down (even if he wasn't legally obliged to accept it) because no other big money name out there is likely to take Maravilla on. Arum will protect Cotto, GBP will protect Alvarez, and Mayweather will protect Mayweather. Conversely Dibella will likely want to protect Martinez from Golovkin, figuring (probably rightly tbf) that given the risk involved it doesn't yet make cash-common sense. I would absolutely love to see any of those four fights though (especially the latter). A Geale fight would be less intriguing, but if Martinez is all out of the aforementioned options then it's about the best left out there. However, clearly time is not on his side so far as making the super fights go.

I should also give a word for Josetito Lopez, who despite being stopped in the fifth put up a positively Balboa esque performance against Alvarez. Size wise it was a total mismatch really. Lopez was utterly hammered, but I was so impressed by the way that he regardless kept coming back with all guns ablazing. Most in that position wouldn't have ended the fight on their feet. Even then the stoppage coming when it did was slightly harsh imo.

Also good to see Paul Williams looking happy and well, despite his incapacity. Him against Alvarez would have made for a bloody brilliant fight.

 

[lillywhites61]

I think it's a shame he feels he has to, he was one of my favourite heart on his sleeve boxers. I still remember he positively. He was like a machine at a point.

 

[dontcallme]

After years of talk by Junior Witter when Hatton was clearly out of his league maybe now would be a good time to have the fight.

 

[hans]

So far as Saturday night's fights go, Martinez put on a total masterclass for 11 rounds but what happened in that 12th could have gone down as one the most amazing moments in recent boxing history had Chavez pulled it off. The Meldrick Taylor comparison would have been uncanny. I think Sergio basically got a bit too cocksure and in his zeal for a late stoppage he let himself get caught out. That said he came back from the two knockdowns well and ended the round strong. He's probably my favourite fighter to watch at the current time.

A rematch would be bloody dumb, because it's perfectly clear who the better fighter was. However, this is the as ever illogical and political sport of boxing, so I'm sure that it will happen nevertheless. Chavez did just about enough in that last round for Arum to have an angle to sell it on, and I don't suppose that Dibella will turn the rematch down (even if he wasn't legally obliged to accept it) because no other big money name out there is likely to take Maravilla on. Arum will protect Cotto, GBP will protect Alvarez, and Mayweather will protect Mayweather. Conversely Dibella will likely want to protect Martinez from Golovkin, figuring (probably rightly tbf) that given the risk involved it doesn't yet make cash-common sense. I would absolutely love to see any of those four fights though (especially the latter). A Geale fight would be less intriguing, but if Martinez is all out of the aforementioned options then it's about the best left out there. However, clearly time is not on his side so far as making the super fights go.

I should also give a word for Josetito Lopez, who despite being stopped in the fifth put up a positively Balboa esque performance against Alvarez. Size wise it was a total mismatch really. Lopez was utterly hammered, but I was so impressed by the way that he regardless kept coming back with all guns ablazing. Most in that position wouldn't have ended the fight on their feet. Even then the stoppage coming when it did was slightly harsh imo.

Also good to see Paul Williams looking happy and well, despite his incapacity. Him against Alvarez would have made for a bloody brilliant fight.

I think Cotto isnt attached to Arum anymore, infact Arum was ridiculing Cotto recently for turning down Pacman for a proposed December fight as they wanted him to fight at a 150lb catch weight - which cotto refused to do. Floyd/cotto only happened once Cotto's contract with Top Rank expired. I dont blame Martinez for taking a rematch, it will easily be the biggest payday for him yet. BUT now it wont happen as JCC jr is likely to get a year ban for failing his post fight drug test. There isnt much out there really for Martinez in terms of huge fights. He has already rejected a move up to fight Andre ward, and theres pretty much no way that Ward will come down to 160lb to meet him. I havent heard it suggested, but Froch/Sergio would be interesting at 164lb catchweight.

I could see Cotto-Alvarez happen early next year with the winner fighting Floyd in May. .

 

[hans]

He's fighting Michael Katsidis. Good fight I guess, could be dangerous though

 

[dontcallme]

It's on tonight. Anyone watching?