Hatton told said: "It is now about the last few goals of my career, putting the final touches to it before I hang the gloves up. "I want to be remembered as a fans' favourite, a people's champion. "Every step of the way, that's what I've done in my career. I don't think anyone can turn around and say 'Ricky Hatton ducked this guy'. "I've fought some of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, won six world titles over two weight divisions and I'm coming home." Chief among those goals are a rematch with Mayweather and a chance to top the bill at the prestigious Madison Square Garden in New York. The Big Apple adventure is likely to be his next fight, against IBF 140lb champion Paulie Malignaggi, and he still dreams of another shot at Mayweather after that. Fans in the United Kingdom usually have to stay up until the early hours to watch high-profile British fighters due to the demands of American television paymasters, but not on this occasion. Hatton has opted to disappoint American TV giants HBO and promoters Golden Boy in order to ensure his fight, being shown live on Sky Box Office in the UK, is at the right time for boxing fans on this side of the Atlantic. "It is at a fan-friendly time, an English time," he said. "I put my contract with HBO and Golden Boy on hold so that I don't have to have it at two in the morning just to coincide with TV. "I could have made a fair few extra quid for having it at two o'clock in the morning. "David Haye-Enzo Maccarinelli was 2am, Joe Calzaghe's fight was 2am. "Generally, that is what you have to do but I chose to put it on hold because I don't like the idea of 55,000 people coming to watch me at 2am." The 29-year-old added: "It's my way of saying 'thank you', really. "Finance is important in your career, needless to say, but some things are worth more than money. It's all about achieving my goals now and doing right by the fans. "I'm all for the fans because I'm a fan myself." "It's always nice to be home," Hatton said. "My last four fights have been in America and the support I have got over there has been absolutely phenomenal, 35,000 went over from England. "I can honestly say I can't see that being bettered again by a British fighter. It makes me feel so proud. "And not only that, it's also for the fans that have supported me from day one back in England, Great Britain and Manchester, who probably thought maybe they had lost the chance to see my fight again here live. "They probably thought I was going to have all my remaining fights in the United States, so I think it's nice to come back. "Not everybody can afford to fly to the US for every fight, so all my fans are going to get the chance to see Ricky Hatton, not just the ones who came to America." As for wrangling over the time of the fight, Hatton added: "It is at a fan-friendly time, an English time. "I put my contract with HBO and Golden Boy on hold so that I don't have to have it at two in the morning just to coincide with TV. "It's my way of saying thank you really. "It is now about the last few goals of my career, putting the final touches to it before I hang the gloves up. "I want to be remembered as a fans' favourite, a people's champion. "Every step of the way that's what I've done in my career, I don't think anyone can turn around and say 'Ricky Hatton ducked this guy'. "I've fought some of the best pound for pound fighters in the world, won six world titles over two weight divisions, I'm coming home for a homecoming, having it at an English time. "I'm all for the fans because I'm a fan myself."
Hatton has come up with some lame excuses of late as why not to fight Witter, i dont think for one second he is scared of him. I actually think Hatton hates him that much. But that being said i if i hated someone i would want to fight them.
He's scared of the possibility of losing. Witter can afford to lose to Hatton, but Hatton cannot afford to lose to Witter.
thats exactly right mate, give hatton his due he has fought some of the best fighters and even though its on boxz office its true about the time change thing. give the guy his due hes provided some good entertainment over the years
Possibly, but i honestly think as i have said before Hatton will beat Witter, and it will be alot easier than people think. He does need to fight him, unless he fights Malignaggi in his next fight.
I would also be geniunly surprised if Witter won it, but even the slight possibility of losing to him put's Hatton in a tight position.
hes had a good career, it'l be sad to say good bye to him.. ill miss the ppv events fighting bums.. hes gonna fight malignaggi then get KO'd by mayweather with another 15million pounds and then retire a rich little ****
Not a ****in chance; Lazcano hasn't anything left, not since Castillo brutally raped him in the second half of their fight.
Will be a shame when he goes. He's responsible for the biggest non heavyweight fight in British history. The Tszyu fight is up there too. He's brought a lot of people to boxing, got it a lot of mainstream coverage and if he can get Mayweather over here for a fight in Wembley it will one of, if not the greatest sporting occasion Britain has seen.