Hatton 2/1 to become world champion if making boxing return
Published:Ricky Hatton is largely expected to step out of retirement before the end of the year and it is just 2/1 that he becomes a world champion again at some point in his life.
Hatton has not been seen in the ring since being emphatically stopped inside two rounds by Manny Pacquiao three years ago.
He has since been focused on running his own production company, with fighters including Martin Murray and Rendall Munroe being members of the team.
However, this company no longer has a television deal with Sky and as a result , the exposure of these boxers is more limited, while money will obviously be tighter.
This is one of the reasons that it is believed that when Hatton makes a ‘public announcement’ later this week, it will be to confirm his return to the ring.
It is known that Hatton has lost a fair amount of weight this year and this is another reason why a comeback is on the cards.
In terms of who Hatton may face in his comeback bout, Zab Judah is the favourite at 4/1 to be the first opponent.
Alternatively, Amir Khan’s conqueror Lamont Peterson is 5/1, although stepping straight back into a battle for the IBF light-welterweight title when there are number-one contenders waiting seems a little unlikely.
Khan can be backed at 8/1 to be Hatton’s first opponent in a potentially lucrative all-British showdown, while Ireland’s Paul McCloskey may be a value call at 12/1.
In terms of future world title fights, stepping into the ring with Peterson is a distinct possibility, alongside a second career bout with Paulie Malignaggi, who has bounced back from his defeat to Hatton in 2008 to become the current WBA welterweight champion.
Ricky Hatton specials
Who will he fight on comeback?
Zab Judah 4/1
Lamont Peterson 5/1
Lovemore N’Dou 6/1
Amir Khan 8/1
Paul McCloskey 12/1
Carson Jones 12/1
Matthew Hatton 50/1
Ricky Hatton to become world champion again
Yes 2/1
No 4/11
Ricky Hatton to announce his retirement before the end of 2012
Yes 7/2
No 1/6
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
