By Sean McDaniel: Ricky Hatton is tired of boxing fans and writers talking constantly about his weight. In an article with the BBC, the former International Boxing Federation light welterweight champion had this to say about his weight issues: “I’m getting sick to the back teeth of hearing people talking about my weight to be honest with you. I’ve had enough of it in the past and a few more comments aren’t going to make much of a difference now. I haven’t hit the scales yet, but I would guess I’m around 12 stone, 10-pounds (178 pounds) and I would generally need to lose just over two stone for a fight anyway.”

It’s hard for fans not to mention Hatton’s weight. When you have a world class athlete like Hatton putting on as much weight as he has recently – and in the past – between fights, how can you not remark on it. Even if Hatton was a singer, it would be news the way his appearance so dramatically changes almost overnight. But for an athlete to put on as much weight as Hatton does, it’s a serious issue because that weight has to come off if he’s to make a comeback.

To be sure, Hatton has always been able to take off all the weight before his other fights, but his performances in three out of his last four fights haven’t been impressive. That could be because Hatton is taking on better opponents, but it also could be a product of Hatton having to take off massive amounts of weight during training camps. For a lot of fighters, taking off the kind of weight that Hatton typically takes off has a draining effect on them causing them to be weaker and less energetic than they were before putting on the weight.

Hatton says “So it’s [talking about his weight as of now] not ideal, but I want to do four or five weeks away from the gym just shedding weight to compensate, and then do my normal 12 week training camp.” Under ideal circumstances, Hatton should be able to burn off 12 pounds of lard in those five weeks of training.

If Hatton is 40 pounds overweight, that will leave 28 pounds of blubber to take off during training camp. Hatton should have no problem taking off the remaining 30 or so pounds in the three months of training camp. However, the question is whether it will leave Hatton feeling weak. Hatton said that he felt over-trained for his last fight against Manny Pacquiao in May.

Hatton looked like he had taken off too much weight in estimation before the fight. His face didn’t look good before the fight, and his cheeks had skin hanging from them, as if he had taken off too much weight too quickly. I had a bad feeling about his fight, because Hatton looked drained going into the ring.

“All I really want to do is just have one comeback win to prove the critics wrong,” Hatton says. This is news, because Hatton had previously said that he would fight one or two more times, depending on how well he looks in his first fight back. Hopefully, Hatton fights well and decides to take on another opponent. Hatton hasn’t said who he will be fighting next. Juan Urango and Juan Manuel Marquez have been mentioned as potential opponents.

Hatton says “I don’t have to fight Amir Khan at all, to be honest with you. Amir’s a friend and also, the problems me and Frank Warren have had in the past would make it very awkward. It’s not an impossibility, but it’s not at the top of the list.” Khan is interested in Hatton, even if he’s might not be. Also, things have changed since last night. Khan reportedly has now signed with Golden Boy Promotions, so Hatton wouldn’t have to worry about having to deal with Warren if that’s an issue for him.