By John F. McKenna (McJack): Former International Boxing Federation (IBF) light welterweight champion Ricky Hatton (45-2, 32 KO’s) has finally confirmed what had been rumored for months when he made the announcement Friday that he would be returning to the ring on November 24. An opponent has not yet been named for Hatton’s comeback bid.

Hatton won The Ring and IBF light welterweight title when he TKO’d Kostya Tszyyu in the 12th round in June 2005. Hatton followed that victory with a 9th round KO win over Carlos Maussa in November 2005, winning the WBA light welterweight title in the process. For his efforts “The Hitman” as Hatton’ is known to his fans was awarded “Fighter of the Year” by Ring Magazine in 2005.

Hatton had a string of 43 straight wins before he was TKO’d by present WBA light middleweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. in December 2007. Hatton suffered a humiliating 2nd round KO loss at the hands of eight division champion Manny Pacquiao in May 2009. The loss to Pacquiao resulted in Hatton entering into a deep state of depression. Hatton is also rumored to have abused drugs and alcohol during that faze of his life.

Hatton’s desire to return to his former glory days is nothing new and is almost as old as boxing itself. The examples of what has happened to once former great fighters who thought they could regain the form they had in their youth, is there for everyone to see.

The great Sugar Ray Robinson is perhaps the best example. After attaining a record of 131 wins and 2 losses in 1952, Ray attempted to make the jump from middleweight up to challenge Joey Maxim for the light heavyweight crown. Robinson was ko’d by Maxim and the heat and was unable to answer the bell for the 14th round. After the loss to Maxim, Sugar Ray retired and after 2 ½ years made a comeback.

At 35 years old Robinson was but a shadow of his former greatness. And although he did achieve some success by eventually winning back his middleweight crown Robinson began losing on a regular basis. His glory days were long gone.

There is no reason to think that Ricky Hatton will fare any better than the scores of other fighters who after retiring conned themselves into thinking they could come back and turn back the clock. Hatton has at various times allowed his weight to balloon out of control. The soon to be 34 year old Hatton is not like the many other fighters of the same age who have maintained their bodies in fighting shape during their absence from the ring.

More than likely Hatton will find out the hard way that attempting to attain his past glory is a huge mistake.