Opponents lining up for Ricky Hatton, Malignaggi adds himself to the list

Hatton has some choices to make (AP Photo)

Ricky Hatton is seemingly coming back for one last fight in the new year. Nothing has been signed or finalized yet, but this is what all the sources are saying.

The only problem for Hatton is picking his opponent from the long list of pugilists lining up for a crack at the Mancunian. Former victim Paulie Malignaggi is the latest to add himself to the list, fresh off his classy performance over Juan Diaz.

It seems a lot of fighters out there are looking at Hatton as an easy fight to take, given his recent losses, weight gain and inactivity. On Hatton's part though, if he can get back to at least decent form then he should beat many of the fighters calling him out with ease. What kind of Hatton shows up when his swan song is eventually  played out remains to be seen, but as bad as his losses have been, he didn't look too diminished in the two fights he bad between his losses to Mayweather and Pacquiao.

Juan Manuel Marquez (AP Photo)

The name being mentioned more than most others with regards to Hatton is Juan Manual Marquez. The pair have apparently verbally agreed to fight, and the bout make sense for both men.

Hatton can go out on a big win, albeit against a smaller man, and Marquez can make a lot of money in a fight he won't be thought any less of for losing. Some have Marquez as the favorite in this one, and if they were the same size I would agree. A smaller and much older Marquez above his natural weight though should make for a  good name and an easy win for Hatton if he gets back to his best though.

Does Paulie have anything new? (AP Photo)

The once thrashed Paulie Malignaggi also wants another crack at Hatton to avenge his previous loss, and is even willing to go through Juan Manuel Marquez to get it. While he has improved since they last met, I still don't see him having anything much to trouble prime Hatton.

The fight isn't probably a goof idea for Paulie either way at the moment. If he wins then he beat a shot fighter, and if he loses again then he pegs himself squarely at a lower level than the best fighters in the division.

Fights against Amir Khan or Juan Manuel Marquez seem to be better fights for Paulie at this stage, although the loss to Hatton is probably more of a bruised ego issue than anything else. In the first fight Malignaggi landed his excellent left jab throughout, the trouble was that even when Hatton lunged right into them, Paulie's fistic pillows didn't so much as wobble Hatton. Not to mention Paulie doesn't seem to like being roughed up and bullied around, which Hatton does very well.

De La Hoya would make for the biggest fight (AP Photo)

Although this hasn't been mentioned by either fighter, a fight with Oscar De La Hoya would certainly be the biggest seller left for Hatton. Hatton might not be the favorite here, although it would be close, but the prospect of making a lot more than any other fight on the list might tempt both fighters.

Given that Oscar is retired, and that Hatton is semi-retired now, the marketing for this one would write itself, and even now the pay per view sales would be huge. Not only that but the fight would be easy to make due to Hatton being affiliated with Golden boy promotions and Oscar being the Golden boy himself.

The fight itself would favor De La Hoya of old, but the older slower Oscar might struggle with Hatton's pace assuming he comes back in good form. The two are friends, but given the amount of money at stake, I'm sure they could put that aside for the duration of the bout.

Another benefit of Oscar being the fighter to challenge Hatton would be that his slowing of late would make a vicious knockout of the Manny Pacquiao variety a lot less likely.

Khan eager for a big name (AP Photo)

Amir Khan is the last choice I can see Hatton taking, although not because of the fighter himself. Hatton was under contract with Frank Warren, Amir's promoter for a number of years until he apparently became unhappy with a number of things. Legal trouble ensued when Hatton tried to switch promoters, and Warren and Hatton have been on bad terms ever since.

Could the two put their differences aside for a bout, then Khan at least would have a good chance to show where he should be ranked in the division. Some see Hatton as a shot fighter with one fight left, while other list him at the top of the light welterweight rankings still. Squashing Khan would keep him right at the top of the tree, while a win over Hatton would elevate Khan right to where he wants to be, the upper echelons of boxing.

The last on the list asking for a bout against Hatton is Lovemore N'dou, who recently drew with his brother Matthew. Although this would be an interesting fight, I don't see Ricky taking this one anytime soon. Firstly the fight would be the smallest in terms of interest and money from the list of fighters who want to fight him. Secondly and most importantly, Matthew Hatton is looking for another crack at N'dou and Ricky taking the fight instead would sabotage his brothers career somewhat. As an entirely outside shot, well known MMA fighter and former UFC champion Randy Couture called for Hatton to take up a career in MMA, which Ricky is known to be a fan of.

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Some of Hattons best fights (be warned there is some strong language at one point of the video)

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