Ricky Hatton has revealed the torment he is going through in making a decision over his future.
The 30-year-old Mancunian has yet to announce whether he will return to the ring after suffering the second defeat of his career in devastating fashion against pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao in May.
Despite calls from a large section of the boxing community for him to walk away, Hatton could well be tempted into a swansong in England.
The Hitman is currently promoting Tony Oakey – who bounced back from defeat to Nathan Cleverly to win Prizefighter – in a bout with Shon Davies at the weekend and insisted the resurrection of the light-heavyweight’s career is a source of encouragement.
“Tony found himself in the same position I find myself in now,” Hatton told the Manchester Evening News. Confident
“I had a fight and I had a bad defeat and was thinking: ‘Have I had too many fights? Have I had enough?’
“But he looked better than ever winning the Prizefighter and was supremely confident in his interviews.
“I’ve not made a decision on my future yet, but if there is any inspiration I can take, it’s from what Tony did.
“Everyone thought it was over for him, but he’s come back. Maybe I should look at that and think ‘my career is not over yet’.”
A ‘Battle of Britain’ against WBA light-welterweight challenger Amir Khan is one option, but Hatton’s father and manager, Ray, has spoken of the agonising his son has gone through since that second-round knockout against Pacquiao.
“One minute he says, ‘Do I need it anymore?'” said Ray. “The next he says, ‘How can I go out like that?’
“It has to be his decision and whatever he decides his family will stand by him.”
