By William Mackay: Ricky Hatton (45-2, 32 KO’s) is considering a come back, saying “Who knows? Next year after Christmas and New Year, and after the holiday I’ve got booked for January, I might think about what I’m doing…seeing Matthew [Hatton] and all the lads I’m promoting be successful has given me that itch back.” That’s good to know that Hatton might be staging a boxing comeback some time next year, although I would have liked to hear a little more of an urgency in his comments than what he said.

Hatton still seems a little bit on the fence about it and not truly as motivated as some of us would like to see from him. Hatton, 31, was viciously knocked out in the 2nd round on May 2nd by Manny Pacquiao. Hatton was knocked down three times in the bout, twice in the 1st round and a final time in the 2nd. The third knock down left Hatton out cold for over three minutes.

One could understand Hatton’s reluctance to want to get back in the ring after a knock out like that, but it’s somewhat disappointing to see Hatton’s lack of desire about the sport. Before the knock out loss to Pacquiao, Hatton was considered to be one of the top fighters in the light welterweight division, and that’s why it seems so strange that he doesn’t want to get back in the ring instead of wasting his career sitting on the sidelines promoting other fighters.

Hatton would seem to have at least two, possibly three good years left in his prime if he’s put in with the right kind of opponent. I wouldn’t want to see Hatton back in there with fast fighters like Floyd Mayweather and Pacquiao, because they clearly have his number. But I think Hatton would do well against Juan Manuel Marquez, Edwin Valero, and Amir Khan. Those opponents seem tailor made to Hatton’s brawling style of fighting. Hatton would do well financially against Marquez and Khan. The Valero fight would be less popular because he’s not as well known.

Hatton has been very reluctant up until now to get back in the ring against other top fighters, even though it would mean big money if he were to come back. Hatton isn’t exactly in need of spending cash after making a bundle in fights against Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Pacquiao. However, by staying out of the ring Hatton is making it more difficult for himself when he does finally decide to stage a comeback.