By Nate Anderson: Former International Boxing Federation light welterweight champion Ricky Hatton (45-2, 32 KO’s) could be fighting at welterweight when he decides on staging his comeback later on this year, according to the Daily Express. This isn’t exactly good news if you’re a Hatton fan.

Ricky has fought twice at welterweight during his 13 year career, beating Luis Collazo by a controversial 12 round decision in 2006, and losing by a 10th round TKO to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2007.

In both fights, Hatton looked small for the weight class and fought poorly. If Hatton is choosing to fight at welterweight so that he can avoid having to struggle to take off the extra pounds he’s put on since his 2nd round knockout loss to Manny Pacquiao on May 2nd 2009, then it’s understandable.

Hatton has put on a great deal of weight since his loss to Pacquiao, and it will be difficult for him to take all the weight off without possibly ending up weight drained. However, unless Hatton takes on smaller welterweight, he might have problems. At 5’7”, Hatton doesn’t have the height and reach to compete well against some of the bigger welterweights without taking a lot of punishment.

Unless Hatton is planning on bringing a smaller fighter from the light welterweight or the lightweight division up to the welterweight division to fight him, like Juan Manuel Marquez, for instance, then Ricky could be in danger of being stopped again. As of now, there’s no word about who Hatton’s next opponent will be.

Some people think it will be World Boxing Organization lightweight champion Marquez, but Juan could be facing WBO interim lightweight title holder Michael Katsidis. WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan is also interested in fighting Hatton. Khan must first get by WBA interim champion Marcos Maidana next, though.