Hatton is Back! Four Realistic, but Entertaining Opponents for Manchester's ... - Yahoo! Sports

On Friday, former lineal world junior welterweight champ, Rick Hatton, announced that he was coming back from a retirement of over three years. The native of Manchester, UK, is set to re-enter the ring at the Manchester Arena on November 24 against a low-level, tune-up opponent. After that, Hatton has his eye on quality, meaningful fights that will hopefully lead to another run at a world title.

The entertaining battler, who will be 34-years-old by the day of his ring return, needs to be realistic, though. Very few world class fighters return to full form after such a long layoff and, really, Hatton was well in decline when Manny Pacquiao lowered the boom and scored his intense 2009 Knockout of the Year shot on the Brit.

Here are four fighters who would provide entertaining and profitable contests for Ricky Hatton, but would be relatively safe opponents for the former top dog at 140 lbs.

Paulie Malignaggi

Back in 2008, Hatton easily handled the fast-talking Brooklyn native, scoring an eleventh round TKO. Malignaggi is now a WBA welterweight titlist and, still, pretty much the same fighter who lost so decisively to Hatton. The Brit's layoff and Malignaggi's reborn self-confidence may even things out this time, but this is definitely a winnable bout for Hatton.

Erik Morales

This one should be a no-brainer. The 36-year-old Morales is also back from a retirement and once again performing at the top levels of the sport. On paper, Morales-Hatton is a good action fight between two top fighters in their mid-30's, on the decline, but still capable of putting forth a quality effort.

Junior Witter

In the UK, there was always talk of a showdown between Hatton and the loud-talking, unorthodox countryman, Witter. Unfortunately, egos and politics never brought the two together. Now, Hatton-Witter may be six years too late, but it would still be an entertaining clash and a sure-fire ticket seller in the UK.

Mercito Gesta

Realistically, Hatton will never avenge his loss to Manny Pacquiao. The Filipino is just too good for Hatton at this point, or at any other point. However, scoring a solid win over a next generation Filipino star may gain him a measure of revenge. Gesta is only 24 and not yet ready for top shelf competition, but Hatton is not exactly top shelf anymore and the money could be too good to turn down.

*******************

Paul Magno was a licensed official in the state of Michoacan, Mexico and a close follower of the sport for more than thirty years. His work can also be found on Fox Sports and The BoxingTribune. In the past, Paul has done work for Inside Fights, The Queensberry Rules and Eastside Boxing.

Source:

Riath Al-samarrai, 'Haunted' Hatton seeks redemption: Pacquiao KO drives comeback as Hitman confirms November return, Daily Mail