• Welterweight

Pacquiao: Hatton comeback a mistake

ESPN staff
November 22, 2012

Eight-weight world champion Manny Pacquiao fears Ricky Hatton will live to regret his decision to return to the ring.

Hatton makes his comeback, three-and-a-half years after his defeat to Pacquiao, on Saturday, when he takes on Vyacheslav Senchenko at the Manchester Arena.

But while he fears Hatton's decision is a mistake, Pacquiao says he respects the Brit's decision to come out of retirement.

"I do not think it is a good idea to come back once a fighter has retired," he said in the Daily Express.

"It's not something I plan on doing. I know how hard it is to get back into good boxing shape after being out of the training camp for only three or four months.

"I cannot imagine what it is like after a number of years. It's not just the conditioning, it's the reflexes, legs, mental conditioning, and so much more. But this is Ricky's decision to make and I respect him for it."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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