By William Mackay: Earlier today, Ricky Hatton took the air out of the possibility of him fighting World Boxing Association light welterweight champion Amir Khan by saying “I don’t think I have to beat Amir to prove anything.” Although Hatton didn’t come right out and say so, his lack of interest in coming out and taking on the 22-year-old Khan seems strange and more than a little odd that Hatton wasn’t jumping all over a fight with the younger Khan.
With the huge amounts of money that would be on the line for a fight against Khan, it seems unnatural for Ricky to not be interested in fighting Khan at this point. Hatton was recently brutally knocked out in the 2nd round by Manny Pacquiao on May 2nd and might be a little gun shy after such a bad knockout.
Kostya Tszyu, who Hatton stopped in the 11th round in 2005, still had a lot left in the tank at the time but never fought again after the stoppage loss. Of course, Tszyu made a lot of money in the fight and didn’t need to have to fight again if he didn’t want to.
Hatton, 30, says that he doesn’t miss boxing. It could be that the money that Hatton has made has taken away the interest/need that he would normally have had he not made the money. However, one has to wonder whether Hatton is suffering from self doubt and is skeptical about his chances against a young fighter like Khan.
That would be perfectly normal if Hatton was afraid of Khan, because Amir looked very impressive in almost pitching a shutout in defeating Andriy Kotelnik last Saturday night. For Hatton to defeat a fighter in the class of Khan, it would take Hatton at his best to defeat him. He couldn’t go into a fight with Khan doubting his ability to absorb a big punch, because Ricky wouldn’t be able to fight hard enough to beat Khan if he’s not pressing forward at 100% effort.
Hatton feels that he doesn’t have anything to prove, and that a fight against Khan wouldn’t make any difference. That may be true, but I have to wonder whether Hatton really wants his loss against Pacquiao to be his last fight of his career.
If he doesn’t and intends on continuing with his career, Hatton needs to choose wisely because it won’t add much to his legacy unless he takes on a good fighter like Khan. Some people feel that Hatton might come back for a fight against former light welterweight champion Junior Witter.
I doubt it, though, because Hatton has never been particularly eager to fight Witter in the last four years and I can’t see that changing now. Hatton might not need the money, but I can’t see how getting a win over a non-champion will do much for Hatton.
Michael Katsidis, a lightweight slugger, has been mentioned as a potential opponent for Hatton, as well several other fighters. However, let me say this, I think Hatton won’t be happy unless he takes on a fighter like Khan. I hope Hatton doesn’t have cold feet about fighting Khan, but I can’t blame him if he did. After all, Khan is much younger, faster, a better mover and is on his way up and still getting better, whereas Hatton appears on his way down after getting knocked out twice in his last four fights.
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