By Pat Merrick
The Hitman’s loyal fans in the United Kingdom may not have been surprised with the recent news that two-weight division world champion Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton has decided to hit the gym and resume his boxing career following months of speculation. This news has been received with mixed emotions from boxing fans. Ricky Hatton is set to make his return to the ring on November 24th at the Manchester Evening News Arena against Vyacheslav Senchenko.
Ricky has not boxed since he was brutally knocked out in 2009 by fast punching Filipino Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and many fans are worried that after two and half years away from the ring, Ricky may not be the same fighting force that he once was. Other fans such as myself feel that after a press conference at Manchester’s Radisson Hotel, Ricky’s passion for the sport has returned. At the press conference he appeared to be lighter in weight than he has been for some time. Many fans feel that with the right passion and focus Ricky can once again regain a world title in the welterweight division and many backers such as David Haye (Former WBA Heavyweight World Champion) feel that “Ricky can come back stronger and better“. I feel that Ricky Hatton could still possess the same kind of power which showed with the crushing body blow that fractured several of Jose Luis Castillo’s ribs in 2007.
Many names have been mentioned as possible future opponents such as the current WBA Welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi, former Light-Welterweight champions Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana and former WBC Welterweight Champion Victor Ortiz. It was finally confirmed in early October that Ukranian Vyacheslav Senchenko will be stepping into the ring with “The Hitman”
With 10,000 of the 19,000 tickets already sold it is bound to be a sell-out show. Ricky Hatton will decide after his comeback fight if he feels ready to challenge for a world title once again and surely many opponents would welcome a big money fight with the Hitman.
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