by James Slater – It seems as though every other week or so, there is a new article somewhere or other telling of Ricky Hatton’s latest decision on whether or not he will fight again. Still to make his mind up completely, Hatton does look like fighting at least once more before hanging up the gloves. That’s certainly the impression he gave whilst talking to members of the Australian media yesterday. As reported by The Guardian, “The Hitman” arrived in Australia yesterday, for the purposes of a promotional tour, and the 31-year-old former light-welterweight champion of the world spoke of how he’d like to end his career, in all al-out blaze of glory in “an absolute war of a fight..”
The Guardian article reports how Hatton would like to bow out against a big name such as an Oscar De La Hoya or a Juan Manuel Marquez, and Ricky himself told the Australian media how would like to exit the sport in a similar manner to the way Kostya Tszyu did, back when he lost a tough battle with him in 2005.
Though he quit on his stool after having taken heavy punishment against Hatton, Australian hero Tszyu won lots of praise for the sportsmanship he showed the new champion. Ricky, who doesn’t want the image of him being flattened by Manny Pacquiao to be the final one he leaves behind, was greatly moved at how Tszyu conducted himself that night in Manchester over four years ago.
“The manner in which I ended my defeat (to Pac-Man) is not really the way I would like to bow out,” Hatton said. “I’d like to bow out like Kostya, in an absolute war of a fight, a wonderful fight with great sportsmanship.”
And though the possibility of this final “war” taking place against British rival Amir Khan still remains, whispers seem to suggest Hatton, if he does indeed decide fully to going back into the ring for at least one more fight, would face De La Hoya or Marquez. De La Hoya’s name being mentioned is sure to raise some eyebrows, seeing as how the former “Golden Boy” has not fought himself since losing to Pacquiao. But some people seem to think there is a chance Oscar could make a return of his own and get it on with Hatton in a stadium blockbuster next summer.
Or maybe Hatton will fight the man he has reportedly already been in talks with, in Marquez. Either way, both these huge names would make it a special final fight night for Hatton, win or lose. And that’s the point it seems: Ricky isn’t afraid of losing, he’d just like to go out having given his fans and himself one last battle to be proud of.
For the record, Hatton will fully make up his mind about what his future holds over the Christmas and New Year holidays.