Ricky Hatton Rumors Continue With Senchenko, Forbes
By Terence Dooley
Rumors that Ricky Hatton has been back in the gym have sparked fresh speculation over Hatton's future plans. Hatton's brief gym time has snowballed into a claim that he will take on WBA welterweight champion Vyacheslav Senchenko in his comeback fight, with the MEN assumed to be the venue for this proposed contest.
However, Hatton's lawyer, Gareth Williams, dismissed claims of Hatton's return as premature a few weeks ago, stating that the fighter would make an official announcement if and when he decides to make a return to the ring. Williams had told The Telegraph that people were making assumptions.
“The fact that he has been reported as getting ready for his next fight is nothing more than conjecture,” said Williams. “People have seen him going to the gym and have put two and two together and come up with the notion that he is in training for a comeback. That is spurious, because he has talked to no-one and is not in discussions whatsoever at this time about another fight,” he continued.
“I travelled back from a Hatton Promotions show in Portsmouth last weekend with Ricky and we were laughing at reports in the weekend papers that he was making a comeback. They are all nonsense. As and when Ricky Hatton decides about his future, he will make a full public announcement.”
Indeed, although untested, Senchenko is unbeaten in 29 fights, Hatton's trips up to welterweight have resulted in disaster, when losing to Floyd Mayweather, or near-disaster, when struggling with Luis Collazo, it is therefore highly unlikely that he will make his comeback against an undefeated welterweight.
Steve Forbes was mooted as a foe last week; this is a far more likely scenario. Forbes has fought at welter, but he is the naturally smaller man, and would be the perfect comeback opponent, should Hatton decide to return.
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