by Johnny Walker
Retired British superstar boxer Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton is set to announce his comeback this Friday at a press conference in Manchester, England.
Weeks of rumors about Hatton’s return, followed by denials and more rumors, will finally be put to rest as the former light welterweight champion, whose only two losses came to the best in the business–Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao–gets ready to step back inside the squared circle.
This is one boxing comeback that is not motivated by lack of funds, as Hatton is said to be a very wealthy man.
But Hatton (45-2-0, 32 KOs) is very unsatisfied with the way his career ended–a savage knockout loss to Pacquiao– and training his stable of fighters as the head of Hatton Promotions has seen him get supremely fit again–he recently joked that he “nearly fell down a grate” in the street due to his newly skinny physique.
Hatton’s comeback will no doubt be tied to television deals for himself and his stable, allowing him to use his name to get more exposure for his up and coming young fighters.
The details as to the exact time and place of Hatton’s first comeback tilt remain to be revealed, but it would be a major surprise if the location was anywhere other than Hatton’s hometown of Manchester
Another British boxing star, David Haye, says he backs Hatton’s comeback.
“If [Hatton] feels he wants to carry on then I’ll support him, no doubt about it,” Haye told Sky Sports.
“If Ricky believes he has more to give and he can produce the goods, then yeah I believe not only will he come back, but come back probably stronger than he was before.”