Long-time rival Junior Witter has told Ricky Hatton he will be making a mistake if he returns to professional boxing.
Domestic rival insists comeback would be a mistake for old foe
Ricky Hatton has been told that making a comeback to the professional ranks is a mistake, by the man who spent most of his career calling him out.
The 33-year-old is expected to confirm on Friday that he is coming out of retirement, some three years after his last bout.
But according to domestic welterweight rival Junior Witter, who consistently tried and failed to lure Hatton into a bout, the move will prove an ill-fated one.
"I don't see what is in it for him," he told the
Daily Express. "You have to come back for a reason and I don't see what the reason is.
"Ricky achieved what he did in a brilliant career, but he is not the type of kid who likes to stay fit and in shape.
"Ricky likes to go out for a beer. His lifestyle is just not suited to be a professional boxer and it is a mistake for him to come back."
Paulie Malignaggi, beaten by Hatton in the past, has been touted as a possible opponent, but, typically, Witter would like to be in the frame himself.
Nothing to prove
"Ricky doesn't need to prove anything," he added. "He had a great career, did remarkably well out of it and should leave it at that, unless there is a purpose behind him coming back - like fighting me.
"We never boxed because Ricky never wanted it, even when I was the WBC world champion and he held the IBF and WBA belts.
"If he came back to fight me then I could see the point in it."
As well as Witter, Amir Khan's manager has suggested his fighter would one day be willing to fight his British rival and friend.
Asif Vali is quoted in the
Daily Star as saying: "It would be huge. It could sell 100,000 at Wembley and everyone would want to see it. A fight between Ricky and Amir further down the line would be huge."
Vali went as far as to suggest he had spoken to his fighter, still smarting from his shock loss to Danny Garcia, about the possibility of a showdown with Hatton.
"While he and Ricky are good friends, he knows boxing is a business," he added.
