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RICKY HATTON has decided to fight on following his two-round loss to Manny Pacquiao last month.
The Hitman, 30, is likely to return in his hometown Manchester later this year but it is still unclear whether that bout will be a farewell fight or a final world title assault.
The former world light-welterweight and welterweight champion still wants to prove himself as an elite fighter.
Hatton has been beaten just twice in 47 fights but both setbacks came on the biggest nights of his career - against Floyd Mayweather Jnr in December 2007 and against the Filipino eight weeks ago.
A leading ring source said: "Ricky doesn't take anything away from Floyd and Manny but he feels there were things that didn't help his performances. He believes he can still offer something and wants to have at least one more fight."
Hatton's decision will disappoint his mum Carol and fiancée Jennifer Dooley, who are keen for the popular Brit to hang up his gloves. Hatton spent three weeks contemplating his future in Tenerife after admitting he was "embarrassed" by the bombshell loss to Pacquiao.
Hurdles
What worried him the most was putting his body through weeks of torture to get down to the 10st light-welter limit. He might return at welterweight.
Hatton will insist on a tough comeback opponent and one possibility is his former sparring partner Steve Forbes, who went 12 rounds with Oscar de la Hoya 14 months ago.
A fight with Amir Khan is also being mooted, but there are plenty of hurdles to be overcome before the two friends can even negotiate. Trainer Floyd Mayweather Snr will be replaced by Lee Beard, who trains Ricky's younger brother Matthew.
The Hitman, 30, is likely to return in his hometown Manchester later this year but it is still unclear whether that bout will be a farewell fight or a final world title assault.
The former world light-welterweight and welterweight champion still wants to prove himself as an elite fighter.
Hatton has been beaten just twice in 47 fights but both setbacks came on the biggest nights of his career - against Floyd Mayweather Jnr in December 2007 and against the Filipino eight weeks ago.
A leading ring source said: "Ricky doesn't take anything away from Floyd and Manny but he feels there were things that didn't help his performances. He believes he can still offer something and wants to have at least one more fight."
Hatton's decision will disappoint his mum Carol and fiancée Jennifer Dooley, who are keen for the popular Brit to hang up his gloves. Hatton spent three weeks contemplating his future in Tenerife after admitting he was "embarrassed" by the bombshell loss to Pacquiao.
Hurdles
What worried him the most was putting his body through weeks of torture to get down to the 10st light-welter limit. He might return at welterweight.
Hatton will insist on a tough comeback opponent and one possibility is his former sparring partner Steve Forbes, who went 12 rounds with Oscar de la Hoya 14 months ago.
A fight with Amir Khan is also being mooted, but there are plenty of hurdles to be overcome before the two friends can even negotiate. Trainer Floyd Mayweather Snr will be replaced by Lee Beard, who trains Ricky's younger brother Matthew.
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