LONDON — Ricky Hatton will return to the boxing ring in November after the former world welterweight and light-welterweight champion confirmed he was coming out of retirement Friday. The Manchester-based fighter, who quit the sport after a devastating two-round knockout at the hands of Manny Pacquiao in May 2009, will fight a so far un-named opponent in his home city's MEN Arena in November. “I got beaten by the best two pound-for-pound fighters of their generation,” Hatton told a news conference. “It was a two-round demolition against Manny Pacquiao and nobody wants to end their career like that.” Hatton, whose best performance came in 2005 when he stopped Australia's Kostya Tszyu to add the IBF light-welterweight title to the WBU belt he already owned, had a perfect 43-0 career record until he was floored by Floyd Mayweather Jr. in Las Vegas in 2007 and he was never really the same again. Unconvincing victories followed against Juan Lazcano and Paulie Malignaggi but he was outclassed by Pacquiao and after a long period of inactivity he retired in July last year. Hatton, who would often put on large amounts of weight in between fights, checked into a rehabilitation center in London in 2010. “It's well documented what's happened to me, my life turned to mush,” Hatton said. “I feel I've put a bit back into the game but it didn't fill the void. I got my trainer's license and started working in the ring and that started the fires burning and I started looking after myself a bit better and getting fitter. “I'm back to fight for world titles. It's more than a comeback. It's worth more than money. A lot of people have said they don't want me to tarnish the legacy but they don't know what goes on between my ears.” Hatton's all-action, “guts-and-glory” style endeared him to fans who travelled in their thousands to watch him take on Mayweather. The 33-year-old won 45 of his 47 fights. Martinez up against Chavez WBC champ Julio Cesar Chavez is in for one of the toughest tests of his career when he defends his title against seasoned-vet Sergio Martinez at the sold-out Thomas and Mack arena Saturday. The 26-year-old Chavez Jr., who is the son of one of the greatest boxer's in Mexican history by the same name, will be making his fourth defense of the WBC middleweight crown that at one time belonged to Argentina's Martinez. Chavez (46-0-1, 32 KOs) vowed Wednesday to not only knock out Martinez but said he would end the 37-year-old's career. Martinez (49-2-2, 28 KOs) shot back he plans to take his time cutting down the young champion before seizing his belt back. “This one will be painful for you,” Martinez told Chavez at a news conference. “You will suffer a lot before I knock you out.” The Argentinian also feels disrespected because Chavez ($3 million) will make more than twice as much as Martinez ($1.4 million), who grew up in the slums of Buenos Aires. Martinez said Chavez is profiting off his famous father's reputation. — Agencies
