RICKY HATTON A LONGSHOT TO RETURN TO BOXING: BOOKMAKERS

Ricky Hatton seems to have fallen on some particularly hard times after verifiable evidence emerged that the Manchester-based pugilist was taking “industrial quantities” of cocaine. The revelation rocked the British boxing industry and Hatton was hauled before the British Boxing Board of Control and has promptly checked himself into rehab with his spokesman Max Clifford effectively confirming that Hatton is suffering from depression.
It had been known for quite some time that Hatton enjoyed his bevvy and the odd fry-up, but the cocaine allegations have certainly ratcheted things up a bit in terms of media attention.
Hatton’s connections continue to insist that the cocaine is a recent problem for Hatton and that depression and boozing are his major issues at the moment. A possible ban may sideline any attempts Hatton has to get back to his best.
There had been speculation over the past few months that Ricky Hatton would come out of retirement to face at least one other fight. A much-vaunted Northern English brawl with Amir Khan failed to materialize.
Ladbrokes has recently released a special betting market for Ricky Hatton with odds listed at 11.0 that he will win any of the 4 world boxing titles in 2011. This includes WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF.
Hatton’s odds to come out of retirement and beat Floyd Mayweather are trading at 17.0 while his odds to come out of retirement and beat Amir Khan are listed at 13.0.
Should Ricky Hatton come out of retirement and beat Manny Pacquiao by December 31, 2011 then you’re looking at a massive 21.0.
All of these options seem very long off at the moment and it will take a drastic turn-around for Hatton to get himself back to the position where he could even think of challenging any of these three.
However, every cloud does have a silver lining and maybe this is Ricky Hatton’s rock-bottom. Maybe this will finally be what sorts him out and changes his life around, so you reckon whether he will make a high-profile return to boxing should he manage to recover from his current demons.