Ricky Hatton confirms return to ring in summer

RICKY Hatton has said he will return to the ring later this year. The 31-year-old had been pondering his fighting future following his brutal second-round knockout by Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas last May.

But he told Hatton TV yesterday: "I've decided to make a comeback and have another fight this year – probably round about the summertime.

"There's been no opponent confirmed yet. There's been no date confirmed yet. But the point is I have made my mind up I am going to have one more fight.

"I've had a good break, a good time off, a good time to reflect and put that last fight behind me and really get over it and get my mind straight. I think after the (Floyd] Mayweather defeat (in December 2007], I jumped straight into action straight away and I didn't really perform my best.

"But this time I've had a good rest, recharged the batteries and had a really good think, put that last fight really behind me and I'm happy to get back at it now."

'The Hitman' added: "I'm going to have one more fight, maybe two more fights – it all depends on the performance of the first fight. It's always hard coming back from a defeat. It would be very foolish of me to say 'two more fights, three more fights'."

Hatton will head to Australia on holiday next week and plans to start getting in shape immediately on his return. "I go on holiday next week with my girlfriend to Australia and then when I come back, even though I haven't got a date yet, I'm going to go straight into training because weight-wise I have had a little bit more to carry than I normally do," he added.

Fellow Briton Amir Khan and Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez have been touted among the possible opponents. Hatton is certainly keen to return against a big name. "We're looking at the IBF champion Juan Urango, who I've already fought and beaten," he said. "It's got to be a top-ten ranked pound-for-pound fighter or a world champion of some sort."

Meanwhile, Alex Arthur has cleared the air with his promoter, Frank Warren and is now set to advance his career at lightweight, starting with a bout in the first week of April.

The Edinburgh boxer, 31, has revealed that recent talks with Warren proved fruitful after he had expressed misgivings about agreeing to undertake a bout at light-welterweight against Nigel Wright in Newcastle last month.

Arthur, the ex-WBO super-featherweight champion, suffered a third career defeat after also complaining about his fight featuring second on the undercard at 6pm when the Metro Arena was only partially filled.

Arthur said: "Frank and I had a meaningful chat and we will continue to work together. There were a few things that needed to be sorted out, including me campaigning at lightweight in future. I am also looking to force my way back into title contention and our discussions were very positive in that regard."