Manny Pacquiao fears that Ricky Hatton is making a big mistake by returning to the ring this weekend.

Pacquiao's crushing knockout win over Hatton appeared to have sent him into retirement three-and-a-half years ago, but 'The Hitman' starts his comeback with a welterweight fight against Vyacheslav Senchenko on Saturday.

Pundits have expressed concerns about Hatton's decision to lace up the gloves again at the age of 34, and Pacquiao believes he will struggle to regain the physical and mental toughness that helped him land world titles at two weights.

The Filipino superstar appears to be nearing the end of his ring career as he has increasingly focused on politics in recent years and the 33-year-old admits he will walk away from the sport for good.

"I do not think it is a good idea to come back once a fighter has retired," he told the Daily Express.

"It's not something I plan on doing. I know how hard it is to get back into good boxing shape after being out of the training camp for only three or four months.

"I cannot imagine what it is like after a number of years. It's not just the conditioning, it's the reflexes, legs, mental conditioning, and so much more.

"But this is Ricky's decision to make and I respect him for it."

Tags: Manny Pacquiao , Ricky Hatton , Vyacheslav Senchenko , Hatton-Senchenko , Hatton vs Senchenko