By Mark Vester

Ricky Hatton has been a ghost to the media for the last few weeks. The Manchester star vanished from the public eye while he decides whether or not to fight again. Close friends and his younger brother Matthew have dropped hints in the press that Ricky plans to retire, but the story changes every day.

Hatton recently made contact with WBA heavyweight champion David Haye. Based on Haye's comments about the conversation, it seems they discussed Hatton's decision on a possible ring return.

Reading between the lines of Haye's comments, you get the impression Hatton must have told him he was still considering a final decision on whether or not he should fight and asked for some friendly advice. British stars like Joe Calzaghe and Amir Khan have asked Hatton to hang up the gloves. Haye has not issued the same advice. He has a very positive attitude about Hatton taking another fight.

"I got a text from him the other day, actually," Haye said to The Guardian. "He asked me how training was going and I told it him it was great. Look, whatever he chooses to do I'll back him. If he feels he's got one more fight left in him and he's got something to prove because he doesn't want to go out on a loss, who are we to say he shouldn't do that?"

"He's got a loyal bunch of supporters and I'd be there to support him. But I really don't know what he's going to do. He said to me he's got back in the gym and was getting the rust off, going through the motions. When you're out of shape and you get back into shape, it's a nice feeling.

There are reports Hatton has had trouble in the gym with cutting weight and putting his punches together. Haye doesn't see that as an issue. He thinks Hatton needs some more time to sharpen himself up in the gym.

"Once he starts sharpening up, I'm sure if he gets a couple of rounds of sparring in and gets the better of one of the lads, he'll feel 'yeah, I ain't lost anything, I'm still here', and, 'yeah, let's have a look who's out there in the top 10'. I could see that happening," Haye said.

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