• Welterweight

Tyson urges Hatton to keep ego in check

ESPN staff
October 7, 2012
Ricky Hatton is returning to boxing for the first time since May 2009 © Getty Images
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Mike Tyson has warned Ricky Hatton to take 'small steps' as he prepares to make his comeback and urged him not to be tempted to take a big fight before he is ready.

Hatton, a former two-weight world champion, will return to the ring in November when he takes on Vyacheslav Senchenko in a sell-out fight in Manchester.

Hatton has been warned against making a comeback but Tyson believes the Brit will be reenergised after three years away from the sport.

"It's really difficult coming back," Tyson told the Telegraph. "You have to be consistent. Floyd Mayweather is a great champion. He's been undefeated for 14 years. But that's ok if you're fighting once a year like he does, but if you're fighting 4 or 5 times a year you get better and better.

"Ricky was a very active fighter. Yes, I'm excited about his comeback. But is he excited about it? If he's excited about it, it excites me more.

"If he has the same vigour and hunger, that excites me. Ricky was in a lot of tough fights some people need time off to regenerate their batteries and we've seen people do that and come back and be successful.

"My main advice for Ricky would be to take it very easy, you don't go in over your head to prove you're tough. Take comfortable fights and build your confidence back up be comfortable about being back in the ring.

"It's about having your pride and your ego in check. These are the proper procedures to go through to reach the destination that we claim to want. That's basically what it is - he has to take small steps."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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