By Mark Vester
Ricky Hatton (43-1, 31KOs) is leaving the door open for a future showdown with UK rival Junior Witter (36-1, 21KOs). During a recent interview with Sky Sports, Hatton said he's still planning to return in May (rumored for May 24 in Manchester), but Witter will not be his next opponent. Witter will make his return to America on March 22, defending his WBC junior welterweight title against unbeaten Demetrius Hopkins.
The animosity is still there, he doesn't want to give Witter the biggest payday of his career, for the moment.
"Junior Witter has made a career for himself on slagging me off," Hatton said. "I don't know whether I want to give him the best pay day of his life. When someone slags you off you don't repay them by giving them their best pay day. But you can never say never. Fair play to Junior - he's won a world title and looking really, really good at the minute."
Following his Dec. 8 loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr., there some minor talk of Hatton still moving forward with a potential bout with Oscar De La Hoya. Hatton doubts the fight will ever happen due their disparity in weight, but he would love to get a crack at De La Hoya.
"Absolutely. I think one of my best attributes is that I'm pretty fearless, so I'll fight anyone that is put in front of me," Hatton said. "Everyone knows that I'm a natural junior-welterweight, I moved up to welter in my last fight. A fight against Oscar would probably be at a catch weight between welter and junior-middle, and I don't know if that would be suitable weight-wise because I'm a 10 stone fighter."
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