Retired Manchester legend Ricky Hatton is crossing his fingers that his good friend, former unified heavyweight champion Tyson Fury (25-0, 18 KOs), will return in style.
Back in November 2012, a 34-year-old Hatton attempted his own comeback after a being away for three-a-half-years - but after a single fight he was sent right back into retirement after getting knocked out by Vyacheslav Senchenko.
Fury has been out of the ring since November 2015, when he shocked the world with a twelve round unanimous decision over Wladimir Klitschko to capture the heavyweight crown.
Fury then saw his career got through a downward spiral due to drugs and depression.
Hatton has been watching Fury take off the pounds, as the former champion is preparing for his long awaited comeback in the coming months.
The unbeaten boxer parted ways with career trainer, uncle Peter Fury, and is being trained by Ben Davison.
Fury is hoping to eventually land a grudge match with IBF, IBO, WBA champion Anthony Joshua.
"My comeback didn't end up in a win but I lost five stone coming back from depression and suicide and drink and drugs and the whole shabang," Hatton told Daily Mail.
"I picked a harder opponent than I should have done. After what I've been through, that's because I'm strong mentally and Tyson is the same. But the damage had already been done with me, I just hope it's not been done with Tyson.
"If I had Tyson, I wouldn't pick someone he can blow over and I wouldn't pick someone like I picked, I'd go somewhere in the middle so that you're going to get a few rounds off to shake the rust off - someone durable that's on the verge of the top 10, where it'll get you just knocking on the door. But I don't know because he's so strong willed, I think he might pick someone like I did. Don't get me wrong, he's 29.
"I was 34, he's younger so he might be able to get away with it... he definitely will not pick a blowover because he won't have proved anything to himself. He wants to prove he's still got it. He'll have to pick someone half decent but without picking someone before your time."
