Ricky Hatton considers his future in the ring

Ray Hatton, father of the ‘Hitman’ and frequent visitor to the south of Tenerife, says son Ricky will do it his way when he eventually decides whether to continue his boxing career. Said Ray, “What is going to happen now is Ricky is going to go away to Tenerife with his girlfriend and family and we will think about what to do.
"This is one big decision for a 30-year-old. It's not like old Father Time is catching up on him. It's the biggest decision of his career, even of his life, and he's got to get it right."
Yet, retirement appears to be a very definite option for Hatton following his devastating second-round knockout by pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas on May 2nd, as those who watched it here at The Merry Monk can confirm.
This was Hatton's second knockout defeat in his last four bouts, although both did come against the man acclaimed at the time as the best boxer on the planet.
Many experts are calling for Hatton to end a career that has seen him win world titles in two weight divisions and build up a 45-2 record.
But father Ray told The Manchester Evening News, "He's taking his time. He is single minded, stubborn if you like, and once he makes up his mind that will be it.
“We will respect that decision and knowing him it will be final and certainly he won't be a Frank Sinatra, forever making comebacks."
Hatton Sr. said the mental wounds caused by the battering at the hands of Pacquiao are still very fresh.
He added, "The defeat is still very painful for him, even now. He knows he was reckless and his game plan went out of the window. A lot of people who know him well are thinking they can't see him going out and ending his career on the back of that sort of defeat.
"Some genuine experts and people who know him best reckon he won't want to be remembered flat on his back."
Apparently there is a long list of potential opponents to fight the Hitman if he does carry on, and Hatton Sr. says many experts are underestimating his achievements inside the ropes.
"I have had a list as long as the city centre to Hyde of people wanting to fight him. Everyone seems to forget he has been beaten twice in his career and those two who beat him were not muppets.
"Floyd Mayweather Jnr was probably the best fighter in the decade and Manny Pacquiao the top pound-for-pound fighter.”