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by Johnny Walker
The Daily Star reports today that British superstar Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton is ready to make his return to the ring this November.
As we reported recently, Hatton has lost weight, gotten himself fighting fit, and apparently rediscovered his love for the sport of boxing, a love that had become dulled in recent times due to the fighter’s struggles with booze and cocaine.
Now the Daily Star says that Hatton “is ready to announce his return in the next fortnight – and his first opponent is almost certain to be old rival Paulie Malignaggi in late November.”
It was previously thought that Hatton might take a warm-up fight before rematching Malignaggi, who he defeated in via an 11th round TKO in 2008.
Malignaggi is scheduled to defend his WBA world welterweight title in Brooklyn against Pablo Cesar Cano in late November, but presumably he would change his schedule to accomodate Hatton, who he badly wants to rematch.
A Malignaggi vs Hatton rematch, with the British hero coming out of retirement, would obviously be very lucrative for all the parties involved.
According to the Daily Mail, Hatton “plans to announce a two-fight return and is keen to secure a TV deal to help his Hatton Promotions company promote the fight.”
The second fight of that deal, if all goes well with Malignaggi, could be none other than a rematch with Manny Pacquiao, who Hatton feels he badly underperformed against in a 2009 second round knockout loss.
