The rumors have started to fade now as the Ricky Hatton- Juan Manuel Marquez fight seems poised to take place some time in 2010. Hatton had been vague about his future, especially since entering the world of promoting. Hatton began promoting young fighters this year with the help of Gareth Williams. But the rumors of his return still persisted.
Richard Schaefer, top lieutenant at Golden Boy Promotions, recently said, “Gareth Williams has indicated to me Ricky would love to fight Juan Manuel Marquez”.
Schaefer went on to say, “I think it would be a great, great all action showdown, so I’m frankly extremely excited if that fight could happen”.
Schaefer has already mentioned the idea to Marquez, who told Schaefer that he would accept the challenge and would love to fight Hatton in Manchester.
The fight may also take on added significance with the emergance of a Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather superfight on the horizon. There is a distinct possibility that Manny could retire, or step away from boxing to pursue other interests should he win. The same could also be said of Mayweather.
With Manny now a full blown welterweight, the junior welterweight division has once again become a wide open division. Being such, Pacquiao may decide to relinquish the belt he won from Hatton.
Many may see this as a second division fight since Hatton and Marquez have both lost to Pacquiao and Mayweather. But remember that they lost to the top two pound for pound fighters in the world, and possibly two of the best of all time. There should be no shame in that. It brings to mind the great Roberto Duran who got blasted out in two rounds by Thomas Hearns. All Duran did was regroup and win the middleweight title from Iran Barkley four and a half years later.
This fight should be an action packed fight and will reestablish the winner, and possibly the loser, as a force again in the 140 pound division. With the Pacquiao-Mayweather winner considering retirement, the Hatton -Marquez fight could surprise everyone and be the second biggest fight of 2010.
