BRITAIN'S most popular fighter, Ricky Hatton,will return to the ring in Manchester next summer to face Juan Manuel Marquez.
Hatton was savagely knocked out inside two rounds by Manny Pacquiao earlier this year and has seriously considered retirement. But the lure of the ring has proved too strong and The Hitman, a sporting hero across the nation, is to start training in February for a scheduled comeback in May.
Former two-weight world champion Hatton is one of the most recognisable sportsmen in the country and his decision to return to the fight game will thrill his legion of fans.
Although many would rather see 31-year-old Hatton hang up his gloves following his heart-breaking KO by Pacquiao, he has always insisted he wants to leave the sport on a high.
Hatton has lost only two of his 47 professional contests – to Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jnr – and a return against Marquez, who lost on a wide points decision to Mayweather a month ago, seems ideal.
Hatton would fight former three-weight world champion Marquez at light-welterweight and almost certainly at the City of Manchester stadium, where he attracted an astonishing 58,000 fans 18 months ago when taking on Juan Lazcano.
Hatton Promotions chief executive Gareth Williams said: “If Ricky does carry on it would be an ideal fight for him to take on Marquez.
“He is an elite fighter, just like Ricky, who will want to challenge the best.
“It makes far more sense to fight Marquez than some of the other names that have been bandied about.”
Source: express.co.uk
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