By James Blears

World Boxing Council President Jose Sulaiman is advising Ricky Hatton to retire. Don Jose said that Ricky has had an impressive career, made good money, is extremely popular, but there comes a point when enough, is the wisest as well as timely decision.

He urged: “The people close to Ricky should recommend him not to come back to boxing. He has a very nice image in Great Britain and he was a very decent fighter. So why keep risking his health and his image. There is no use for that. And if he has enough money I don’t understand what he’s trying to do. If they really like, love and respect him they should try to convince him not to return to the ring.”

One possible opponent being mentioned is legendary Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez, who excelled as a featherweight and super featherweight, but found the going considerably harder at lightweight. And didn’t take his punch up to realms bordering on to the welterweight division in loosing a brave but unequal fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Don Jose said that although Marquez doesn’t have the power of a super lightweight and far less a welterweight, but he is an accomplished counter puncher and his output plus accuracy could spell significant problems for Ricky.

Closer to home, 19 year young welterweight sensation Saul “Canelo” Alvarez confirms that Golden Boy showed some interest in him fighting against Floyd Mayweather on March 13th.  His team sensibly declined…just right now.

Don Jose advised: “Saul is not ready. He’s too young. He should not let himself be influenced by anyone in the business. He should understand he has everything that a boxer would like to have to become a champion of the world. But he needs four to five more fights. Floyd Mayweather has an excellence in boxing like no one else has. It would have made me very sad if Saul had accepted now. He would get a lot of money, but if he lost he would just go down, like so many in the past have done. I believe that he’ll be ready in one year - for Mayweather he’ll probably need two years.”