FEARLESS Ricky Hatton has vowed that he would be happy to face Floyd Mayweather again.
Arriving back at Manchester Airport following his first defeat as a professional boxer, the Hitman wouldn't rule out taking on the man who beat him so comprehensively in Las Vegas last weekend.
The 29-year-old world light-welterweight champion was fighting above his normal weight when his bout against Mayweather was stopped in the 10th round.
Greeted by an army of fans, he said: "A rematch could be in the offing, and there are fights at light-welterweight. I'm bitterly disappointed. I always believed I could do it, but I think I lost my rag a bit at one stage in the middle of the fight.
"I'm going to sit down now and have a few weeks off, get Christmas out of the way, but I'll definitely be back. I'll see what fights are offered to me and sit down and talk to my team."
Hatton, who made the journey home with girlfriend Jennifer Dooley, signed autographs before heading back to Hattersley with his dad Ray.
He added: "When you see the fans that came over to Las Vegas, that cushioned the blow.
"I think any fighter in the world would give his right arm to have support like that."
Ray said: "He feels he's let the fans down and let the country down. I had to remind him that he's still the world light welterweight champion.
"He went up in weight to fight the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
"He's still got the fans behind him and the support he has received has been incredible. He's not going to retire after this, that's not Ricky Hatton."
What do you think Hatton should do next? Have your say.
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Weasel (not McKay), Stockport (14/12/2007 at 12:19)
Ricky has nothing to prove to any of his fans. For those who want to prove themselves against him, they must come up or down to his weight. I personally would like to the Malignaggi fight at the Gardens - purely for a selfish reason - I wouldn't mind a trip to NYC in the new year.
Number Six, The Village (14/12/2007 at 12:33)
RANDYRED (14/12/2007 at 13:48)
I stayed up to support you but thet ref annoyed me holding all the time and elbows and forearms.
I think you could have done better and the ref should take points off for holding.
Never mind fella stick to your weight and just prove your the worlds best at that weight and retire in years to come,oh and ricky bring the yank's to the men arena.
Amjad Ali (14/12/2007 at 16:42)
Ali, Weblinx
GOD IS A BLUE, Failsworth (14/12/2007 at 19:21)
There's only one RICKY HATTON.
Jack Thorley Timperley (15/12/2007 at 12:00)
sven is god, stretford (15/12/2007 at 14:41)
Roy Boy, Alberta, Canada. (15/12/2007 at 16:08)
His determination and heart is admirable,he is a good fighter,but not a great boxer in the true sense of the word.
His style is typical british, upright,coming forward ,with little lateral movement.
Also great boxing champions in recent decades have not been fairskinned white men,this is the domain of the African-american,Latino,etc.
Ricky is a big fish in a little pond,when british fighters cross the atlantic they tend to become "average".
He seems a nice guy,good luck to him.
P.S. the booing of U.S. national Anthem by the British Fans showed a complete lack of class on there part,but is typical of the British sports fan away from home.
Roy Bowden,Canada.
mrogi (18/12/2007 at 03:46)
mrogi (18/12/2007 at 07:07)