The Weekly Debate

Hatton: Done and dusted?

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Speculation has been mounting that Ricky Hatton is poised to announce his comeback with a possible June date at Wembley Stadium against Juan Manuel Marquez.

Sky Sports viewers have enjoyed the many highs and lows of the Hitman's career, so who is better-placed to judge whether he should remain in retirement or go out in a blaze of glory.

To help you decide, Rob Lancaster puts the case forward for a Hitman comeback, while Adam Norman argues that's Hatton's legacy can only be tarnished further by a return to the ring.

Hatton should return

In case you've forgotten already, there's only one Ricky Hatton - a whirling dervish of a fighter who rose to the top in the light-welterweight division.

His sharp wit and love of a pint (or two) meant the Mancunian quickly became a popular figure, a fact backed up by the sheer number of his supporters who travelled out to Las Vegas to support him against Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

In the end, though, the loud backing of his fellow Brits wasn't enough for him to come out on top in the two biggest fights of his otherwise unblemished career.

The stunning second-round loss to Pac Man clearly still rankles with Hatton, otherwise he would long ago have announced his retirement.

Now the rumours are getting stronger and stronger that he should return and, although many may feel it is the wrong option, if the hunger (perhaps an inappropriate choice of words in relation to the Hitman) is still there then why not carry on?

It is easy to forget that in 47 fights as a professional the 31-year-old has lost just twice - and to two modern day legends of the sport no less. He dominated the light-welterweight division for years and would still be the biggest draw at 140lbs.

Perhaps Hatton feels he deserves at least one more outing for nothing more than to thank his loyal fans - a chance to make sure the lasting memory he leaves the sport with is not one of him staring at the ceiling of the MGM Grand.

My argument does come with a disclaimer, though. While I'd like to see Ricky return I'm wary of possible opponents. While a win could be the perfect send-off before he concentrates fully on his role as a promoter, a third loss in five outings would tarnish his legacy, something that has happened to some of the greatest who ever laced up a set of gloves.

Juan Manuel Marquez is, perhaps, a little too risky. So too would be a bout with compatriot Amir Khan, a man nearly 10 years his junior.

But there are other names out there - reigning WBC light-welterweight champion Timothy Bradley perhaps, or maybe the experienced Cuban Joel Casamayor. And what about the Hitman for The Hitter? Junior Witter has always wanted a crack at Hatton and right now the two could prove to be a perfect match.

Hitman should revel in retirement

There seems to be only one reason why Ricky Hatton would want to fight again - ego.

Hatton said after his punishing beating at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jnr that he 'didn't want to go out like that', and he duly returned with a stage-managed points victory against the over-matched Juan Lazcano.

Not that the Hitman had things all his own way that night at the City Of Manchester Stadium in front of 55,000 adoring fans.

Hatton, who has never looked as good as when beating an ageing Kostya Tszyu to win his first world title in 2005, looked decidedly shaky in the later rounds against Lazcano, who had fought only once in 18 months prior to the fight.

Ricky then ditched old friend and trainer Billy Graham to team up with Floyd Mayweather Snr, and Hatton appeared to be back on track against Paulie Malignaggi, apparently firing the Mancunian into the big time once more with Mayweather Jnr enjoying his so-called 'retirement'.

But the victory against Malignaggi, who for all his technical abilities couldn't fight his way out of a cloth sack, was merely papering over the cracks that had appeared in his triumph over teak-tough welterweight Juan Collazo two years before, and made into yawning gaps by 'Money' Mayweather.

Manny Pacquiao, a blown-up featherweight, lay in wait, and a 12-round war was anticipated between the brawler and the stylist.

But while Mayweathwer gave the Brit a drawn-out beating, the Filipino great wasted little time and energy in knocking a shambolic Hatton cold inside six minutes.

After 47 hard fights, most of which saw Hatton wear more than his fair share of leather, the announcement of imminent retirement was keenly awaited by ardent fight fans, with the best days of the marauding, courageous warrior firmly in the past.

But the news never came, and still we wait. Hatton just can't let it go. The painful memory of that embarrassing KO still too fresh in the memory, he wants to right a wrong seemingly at whatever the cost.

Ricky, for the fans, for yourself, let it go.