The drums are beating loud. From England to the States, writers and fans alike are calling for Ricky Hatton to retire after he was knocked senseless by Manny Pacquiao. Before the HBO-PPV broadcast could end, the speculation had already begun.
Floyd Mayweather Sr., who trained Hatton for his bout with Pacquiao, suggested so when interviewed after the fight. The Monday following the fight, columns and mailbags were full of retirement talk for Hatton.
Yet during all this talk, Hatton has remained pretty tight lipped. Aside from a few statements regarding the fight, he has remained undecided about his future. His dad even went as far as to let everyone know that Ricky had not decided anything yet.
Let’s face it, Hatton is done as an elite level fighter. While he may still be a major attraction, he has been stopped both times he stepped up to the pound for pound level. At only 30 years of age, he is at a serious crossroads.
If Hatton is to keep fighting, he would be well served to return to England and choose his opponents carefully. For all intents and purposes, he has been exposed. Mayweather and Pacquiao have shown that he can be timed as he rushes in with his chin up and hands down.
At 30, and with 47 professional fights, its probably too late to change his style. He is what he is; a great brawler with an extremely loyal fan base. Like Arturo Gatti before him, his status or lack thereof does not seem to deter his fan base.
This leaves Hatton with two viable options; a farewell fight in Manchester, or resume careful matchmaking going forward.
If he is to have one last fight, the perfect opponent would be Junior Witter in an English grudge match. The two have traded plenty of words over the years, but no blows. This fight should be a good seller in England, and is a winnable fight for Hatton.
If he is to resume fighting long term, he needs a confidence builder. Lightweight Michael Katsidis would do for such a matchup. Basically a smaller, less rough version of Hatton, the two styles would make for plenty of action. Katsidis lacks the natural hand speed or one-punch power to pose more than a marginal threat to Hatton.
If he should get by Katsidis, a fight with Timothy Bradley would really let Hatton know whether to hang up the gloves. A prime Ricky Hatton would no doubt have been a huge favorite over Bradley, but at this point who knows?
Bradley is skilled, speedy, and has plenty of heart. He would be the perfect opponent to answer any lingering questions Hatton would have about his career. While a very good fighter, Bradley is a step below the Floyd Mayweathers and Manny Pacquiaos of this world.
At this stage, one has to wonder if even a Timothy Bradley is too much for Hatton.
