• Boxing

Hatton urges fans to ignore retirement speculation

ESPN staff
March 23, 2010
Ricky Hatton's last fight was against Manny Pacquiao in May 2009

Ricky Hatton has hinted that rumours of his imminent retirement are wide of the mark, urging fans to "ignore the speculation" about his future.

According to recent reports, Hatton has abandoned his plan to return to the ring in 2010 for his first fight since a second-round defeat to Manny Pacquiao last May.

If Hatton does decide to fight again, he will not be short of offers - Juan Manuel Marquez and Paulie Malignaggi have both confirmed an interest in taking on the 31-year-old Mancunian.

"There has been a lot of hearsay in recent weeks regarding my retirement, but I urge my loyal fans to ignore the speculation," Hatton told the Manchester Evening News. "If and when I do eventually decide to retire, the announcement will be made by myself. I feel that I have earned the right to do it myself."

Hatton also refuted rumours that he had approached Freddie Roach - trainer of Pacquiao and Amir Khan - about the possibility of receiving his guidance. "I was also interested to read that I had recently asked Freddie Roach to train me but that he turned me down," he said.

"I wish to put the record straight that, while I have the utmost respect for Roach, I have never once asked him, or indeed considered him, to train me."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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