03.02.08 Hatton would like rematch

Ricky Hatton has revealed the fear of being remembered as a failure means he is not even contemplating retirement.

The Manchester 'Hitman' boasted one of the longest unbeaten records in boxing until he was floored by Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas in December.

He has reiterated his desire for a re-match with the world's best pound-for-pound fighter, claiming he was not given "a fair crack of the whip" in last year's welterweight contest.

"I don't want my last fight to be that fight, me on my back getting counted out to my first defeat," Hatton said in The Times.

"What sort of a champion would I be if I didn't come back and try and prove myself?"

Hatton, 29, is concerned about being mentioned in the same breath as Naseem Hamed, whose career took a nosedive after a defeat to Marco Antonio Barrera.

Hatton said: "Naseem Hamed's situation is a shame; he's one of the best fighters we've ever had, but unfortunately because of the way he bowed out, he's going to be remembered for his defeat rather than all the success that went before. I don't want to go down that same route.

"All the greatest fighters - (Rocky) Marciano being the exception - have lost and you become a good champion by coming back from adversity. If I come back stronger, people will hold me in even higher regard."

He added: "There's one or two things I want to do and one of those is to prove people wrong.

"If you're a man, that's what you do. So I'd like to fight Floyd again; last time, I don't think I was given a fair crack of the whip."

Hatton revealed how referee Joe Cortez's refusal to allow him to get in Mayweather's face left him demoralised.

He said: "I have a lot of respect for Mr Cortez. Maybe he just had an off-night. And I was a little bit over-keen, over-eager and I made the cardinal sin of losing my composure."

The American great eventually landed the knockout blow in round 10.

Hatton refused to confirm how many more bouts he plans before retirement but he dreams of topping the bill at Madison Square Gardens and fighting at the home of his beloved Manchester City.


discuss in FORUM HERE