By John Woolford: Just this week Hatton’s agent Paul Speak made it clear to Sky Sports that a return to the ring was mere speculation and that Ricky’s weight loss was purely down to keeping in good health.

But it’s been reported that Ricky’s management is making “tentative” bookings with Manchester’s MEN Arena for later this year.

We all know that Paula Malignaggi is eyeing up a possible redemption fight if Hatton does make a return but then also the Australian-based WBF Welterweight South African Lovemore Ndou also fancies a chance of a possible clash if Hatton makes that anticipated return.

Now fight fans, for those that think Ricky’s well and truly over the hill just don’t forget boxing greats often benefit from a much needed rest if their career’s have been jam packed with excitement.

Top tier fighters such as Vitali Klitshco, Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Carl Thompson, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Sugar Ray Leonard including many more spent several years away from the ring only to return to capture another world title, so it can be done.

The most talented boxers don’t just need a rest due to boxing but also the high life that goes with it. Within the last 12 months Ricky Hatton’s been taking good care of his health. If he does make that return let’s not write him off just yet, boxing history has proved that comebacks like these can sometimes produce a happy ending.