By Nate Anderson: Former IBF light welterweight and World Boxing Association welterweight champion Ricky Hatton (45-2, 32 KO’s) is considering coming back for one or two fights, and is looking at possibly fighting IBF light welterweight champion Juan Urango (22-2-1, 17 KO’s) in his first fight back. Hatton says “We’re looking at the IBF champion Juan Urango, who I’ve already beaten.”

It’s seems a little strange that Hatton would want to go over old ground and fight Urango. If Hatton is eager to win back his old title, he should focus on going after his WBA welterweight title instead of a fight against Urango. At least Hatton would have a fight against WBA title holder Shane Mosley, a major star, instead of the little known Urango. More than that, Urango was soundly defeated in a one-sided 12 round decision to WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto in May 2009.

Although Urango, 29, had moved up in weight for the fight against Berto, there’s no mistaking that Urango was totally dominated by Berto for the full 12 rounds. Hatton defeated Urango by lopsided 12 round decision in January 2007. It would seem silly to want to fight him now. If Hatton is interested in him because of his title, then Hatton should go after one of the other light welterweight belt holders like Timothy Bradley, Devon Alexander or Amir Khan.

Any one of those fights would be a good option for Hatton, especially the Khan and Bradley fights. Its doubtful Hatton will face Khan, though, because in the past he’s been reluctant to fight him because Hatton sees Khan as a friend of his.

The choice of opponent isn’t set in stone as of yet, however. Hatton says “There’s been no opponent that has been confirmed yet. There’s been no date confirmed yet. But the point is I have made my mind up I am going o have one more fight.” Depending on how Hatton does in that fight, he will decide to fight again or choose to retire.

This is why it’s important for Hatton to choose the best possible opponent he can. If this could be his last fight of his career, Hatton needs to go out with a bang and choose the most popular fighter he can. Khan would be good, as would Shane Mosley, Floyd Mayweather Jr., or Bradley.

There are not a whole of popular fighters in the light welterweight and welterweight division aside from Pacquiao and Mayweather. Hatton could even pick one of the top lightweights like Edwin Valero or Juan Manuel Marquez. Those would be great fights, especially the Marquez bout. I don’t know that Hatton would win, but he’d make it interesting for as long as it lasted.

Valero would be a great fight because of his big power and his high pressure offense. Hatton would have a chance of winning it if his chin could hold up under the big shots from Valero. Another opponent that I think would be good is WBA light welterweight interim champion Marcos Maidana. With his huge power, Hatton would have to be very careful that he doesn’t wind up getting knocked cold again.