Amir Khan and Ricky Hatton should remember just how fragile reputations are. Both have recently stated a desire to enter the ring with each other, with the potential for jaw-dropping revenue an obvious lure. Whatever the outcome of the bout, reputations would suffer.
Khan's desire to "shock" America next year, which he stated following his victory over Dmitry Salita, is a wiser course of action. A defeat of Hatton would be a futile exercise; a sideways step when he has the opportunity to make great strides forward. There would be no shock if he were to win; only embarrassment in losing to a fighter past his best.
Speaking to the Glasgow Herald, the Bolton-born fighter justified his keenness: "I would hate to get to the end of my career and look back at it and not have had the chance to fight Ricky Hatton." If Khan loses to Hatton, he may well be looking at the end of his career sooner than he would like.
Khan has already suffered an ignominious 54-second defeat to Breidis Prescott and his reputation would be hard-pressed to withstand another unexpected reverse. Although Hatton has a formidable record, he surely cannot before have been as out of shape as he is presently, with commentators speculating that the Mancunian has surpassed 14 stones. A win over a portly Hatton would not be momentous or prestigious for Khan.
As much as Hatton would like his final bout to have not ended in second-round defeat against Manny Pacquiao in May 2009, he must accept that conclusion. Ending with a second consecutive loss would be significantly less palatable - and an in-form, Freddie Roach-trained Khan would almost certainly be the favourite. Hatton has a history of losing condition after fights and this will in all likelihood have slowed his reflexes, while the effort required in order to get to fighting shape will drain energy reserves. As former trainer Billy Graham said: "What it will do, [Hatton's] lifestyle, it will stop longevity."
If Hatton beats Khan, will he be able to call it a day having fulfilled his desire for a victorious passage to retirement? As the old adage states, boxers are always the last to know when to stop. If the Hitman, energised by a defeat of Khan, were to be tempted into another shot at the likes of Mayweather Jnr or Pacquiao then he would fair no better than in their previous encounters.
Neither fighter will gain by accepting the fight, and instead should resist the calls of those clamouring for the bout.
Josh Williams is an assistant editor of ESPN.co.uk
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