By David Anderson, Mirror.co.uk
Ricky Hatton's comeback looks set to take place in his old stomping ground of Manchester's MEN Arena.
Hatton was hoping to make an emotional return to his beloved Eastlands where he packed in a post-war British record crowd of 55,000 to see him outpoint Juan Lazcano in May 2008.
But he has run into problems trying to secure the stadium for his proposed fight date in the last week of May-first week of June.
Old Trafford is an obvious non-starter and Lancashire's cricketing home across the road is also not viable.
That leaves the MEN as the Hitman's only real option in Manchester and he hasn't fought there since he famously vanquished Kostya Tszyu in May 2005 in the highlight of his career.
Hatton used to pack out the 22,000-capacity MEN regularly when he was the WBU light-welterweight champion before his split with Frank Warren.
And he could look forward to another sell-out crowd for his eagerly-awaited comeback following his KO by Manny Pacquiao in May 2009.
Hatton, 31, has no shortage of potential opponents and Juan Manuel Marquez, who is also coming back off a loss to Floyd Mayeweather Junior, has been mooted along with IBF champ Juan Urango.
Intriguingly, Marquez is slated to fight on May 8 against an opponent yet to be named, but at Las Vegas' MGM Grand rather than Manchester.
Hatton will begin his training camp at his Hyde gym next month when he returns from holiday in Australia and he will have to shift around three stone to make the 10-stone limit.
He claims he is only coming back for this fight and that he may quit for good if he feels he no longer can cut it at world level.
But those close to the Mancunian say he has got his old hunger back and don't rule out an autumn superfight against Amir Khan.
Khan's split with Warren removes the last obstacle to that clash taking place and Hatton would love to put Khan in his place and reclaim his old WBA light-welterweight title.
Source: mirror.co.uk
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