By Chris Williams: Ricky Hatton (45-2, 32 KO’s) has been saying that he plans on coming back for one fight against either a world champion or a pound-for-pound top fighters. But I’m starting to wonder about who Hatton really will eventually fight. I have my doubts that we’ll see any kind of champion or pound-for-pound fighter as he says. I hope I’m wrong, but I think if Hatton does end up fighting a champion, it could be a disappointing selection. The good thing about boxing now is that with all the different ranking organizations it’s possible to find a number of weak champions in any one division.

For example, we have Vyacheslav Senchenko as the World Boxing Association welterweight champion. He’s a decent fighter, but nowhere near as good as champions Shane Mosley, Manny Pacquiao and Andre Berto. I wouldn’t be surprised if Senchenko winds up as Hatton’s next fight. Senchenko is a weak puncher, and fits Hatton’s requirements of having a title in his possession. To be sure, it would be pretty much empty win if Hatton can defeat a guy Senchenko, because a lot of boxing fans have heard of the dude and might not care that Hatton found someone he could beat for a title.

I would much prefer that Hatton go out on his shield by facing a tough fighter like Timothy Bradley, Marcos Maidana or Devon Alexander, if he plans on fighting a light welterweight. I don’t want to see Hatton fight Juan Urango again. He already beat that guy by a lopsided 12 round decision in 2007, and what’s the point of going over old ground?

If Hatton plans on moving up in weight to fight at welterweight, which might not be a bad idea in looking at how fat Hatton has become lately, I’d like to see Hatton facing Mosley or WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto. Either one of those fighters would be an excellent pick. I think would be destroyed by either one of them, but at least he could do down swinging in a blaze glory. A fight against Senchenko would be a weak choice in my view.

I wouldn’t recommend Hatton facing IBF welterweight champion Jan Zaveck, a slugger with a style not unlike Hatton’s. I think Zaveck would be too powerful for Hatton and I can see him running Hatton over like a speed bump in the road. It would be a fun fight to watch, but Hatton could raked by Zaveck and would take a lot of heat in the press for losing against a little known fighter.

The smart choices for Hatton would be Mosley, Berto, Bradley, Maidana, and Alexander. If Hatton does insist on taking an easy mark, I would advise him to select Amir Khan. I think Hatton can beat Khan if he can get to his weak chin. Hatton would have to chase Amir around the ring for awhile to land the knockout blow, but I think he can catch up to Khan sooner or later and knock his lights out. But Khan is about as weak as I would advise Hatton to go. If this is going to be Hatton’s last fight of his boxing career, he needs to man up and fight the most dangerous opponent available so he doesn’t give boxing fans the perception that he’s a cherry picker.