The Hitman returns to the ring on May 24 for the first time since losing to Floyd Mayweather last December.
The showdown at Eastlands in front of a 50,000 plus crowd is likely to be his last fight in Manchester, as he plans to return to the US to take on Paulie Malignaggi.
While the 29-year-old IBO light-welterweight champion still craves another shot at Mayweather, he says his priority is to remind the world that he is still the finest fighter in his weight division.
"A champion's greatness is proved on how he comes back from a defeat," he said.
"Every champion can be great when everything is going well, but you find out how good you are when you come back from defeat. I think it will make me a better champion.
"What a lot of people have forgotten is that I didn't lose my world title, I lost challenging for another.
"On May 24 I'm defending my Ring Magazine title, which every undisputed champion has, along with my IBO title.
"A lot of people say it's my comeback. I don't see it as a comeback. I see it as a homecoming, but not a comeback.
"I've not been anywhere. I'm still the man to beat at junior welterweight and I've got to put in a performance that tells everyone that I'm still the man to beat."
Hatton admits he has been left dumbstruck by the goings- on at his beloved Manchester City in recent days and believes that Sven-Goran Eriksson could have departed by the time he steps into the ring.
"I am sorry to see him go. It really is a crying shame because we've had the best season in I don't know how many years.
"Ninth in the table for City is end of the rainbow stuff compared to what we are used to. For a City manager to get in the top nine and get the sack is very strange. They normally get that for being in the bottom six."
Hatton, however, is concentrating on boxing and said: "All through my career it has been about the challenge. I am sure a few years back when I topped the MEN Arena people thought I'd found my level and that would be it. But then I beat Kostya Tszyu and became world champion in two weight divisions.
"Look at my record. Floyd Mayweather was No 1 pound for pound in the world, Kostya Tszyu was No 2 pound for pound, Jose Luis Castillo was top 10. It's always been about the challenge. When I said I want to be the best and fight the best, I'm sure people liked my enthusiasm but couldn't see it.
"I'm glad I've done what I said I would. Losing is not an option. With Paul Malignaggi on the undercard it shows my intention to go back to the US and challenge for more titles.
"I'm not resting on my laurels, I want to get back winning belts. That was always the challenge."
Only 1,000 tickets remain for the event, which also includes Hatton's brother, Matthew, fighting Craig Watson for the Commonwealth Welterweight title, as well Malignaggi defending his IBF Light Welterweight title against Lovemore N'Dou. Tweet
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Good luck Ricky ....
any good at thai boxing?
MAYBE HE SHOULD COME AND KNOCK SOME SENSE INTO DR T.THOUGH ID MUCH RATHER SEE HIM KNOCK OUT RONALDO.WINK WINK
In my eyes Ricky Hatton is becoming a 'celebrity boxer' and a Frank Bruno type character who we will see in Panto or Celebrity Come Dancing within the next year or two. Ricky could give Max Clifford a run for his money in the PR stakes because he never misses a chance to promote himself and mention how good his opponents are, so he looks good when he beats them. Some of his PR spin is blatantly not true. For example, he says "I've fought some of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the World", well Ricky the truth is that you have fought two top 10 pound-for-pound fighters (Tsyzu & Mayweather) and you only beat one of them, and he was 34 and had only boxed 3 rounds in the previous 2 years. Ricky mentions that Castillo was in the top 10 pound-for-pound list when he fought him but this is simply not true, Castillo wasn’t even in anybodies top 15 when he fought Hatton !!
Also, Ricky said "I've won 6 World titles", again this is not true, he has won 3 world titles (IBF light welter, WBA light welter, and WBA Welter). He was given the Ring Magazine belt, and the other two he won in the ring (IBO and WBU) are completely worthless and not recognised as genuine world titles. The best belt in boxing is the WBC title which has been held by all the great champions, such as, Hagler, Hearns, Chavex, Carlos Monzon, Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Hagler, Duran, Tyson, Mayweather, Pacquiao, Calzaghe, Barrera, Morales, Marquez, to name just a few.
I also take exception to Ricky's comment that "It's about doing right by the fans". This is utter nonsense. It's about doing what's right for Ricky Hatton so don't try and fool the public. If its about doing right by the fans, why did 'Team Hatton' sell their allocation of tickets for the Mayweather fight at a 30% mark up ? And why is Ricky not doing right by the fans by fighting Junior Witter for the prestigious WBC belt ? And is putting your non-title tune-up fight (Lazcano) on Pay Per View doing right by the fans Ricky ?
I think it is time for Ricky Hatton to take a reality check. Is Ricky Hatton the best boxer in the UK ? No, that is Joe Calzaghe. Until he fights Witter, we do not know if Ricky Hatton is the best light-welterweight within a 50 mile radius of his own back yard....Never mind the best in the world!!!!
PatBlackFlash - your issues with Ricky Hatton are completely unfounded.
You are right Ricky has never missed a PR opportunity - but why is that a problem? No boxer would ever not promote himself, infact no promoter would allow his boxer not to - it helps sell tickets/merchandise afterall.
Secondly, you even correct yourself on this, Ricky has fought "some" of the best fighters in the world (some being plural - hence more than 1 - Mayweather and Tsyzu). Again you misread the article - Ricky is right, Castillo was Top 10 - Ricky does not mention this was when he fought him!
Hatton has won 6 world titles - if you can't find the facts don't be throwing around nonsense. It also doesn't matter whether they are recognised or not - fact is they are world titles.
Hatton is doing right by the fans - by fighting in Manchester and not making us fork out another couple of grand to go and see his next fight!
The only point i'd agree with you on is Joe Calzaghe being the best british boxer. As for Whitter well that just shows what a foolish post you have written.
couldnt agree more bout hatton.hes so full of bull its untrue.he still thinks he cud take out maywhether.hed jus get destroed and sparked out even more if he fought him again.hattons the most overrated and hyped up fighter this countries ever had.if it wasnt 4 his support i doubt we wud av heard much bout him.if he really wanted 2 please his fans he wud of got it on with witter.hes taking on a muppet 2 make him look good in fron of his fans.hes like calzage fought people who were well past there best and old like kosta zu castillo.he got beat by that tatooed guy in america i dont know how he got the decision.even eamon magee wud of beaten him if that ref hadnt stopped magee when he had hatton in trouble.he shud stick 2 his crap jokes and playing darts with his sad mates down the pud.he will defo end up like bruno doin panto
this juan lazcano fight is jus ripping his fans of.he reckons its a thankyou 2 his fans.wat a joke.its a safe fight hes got no chance of losing.this guys not rated by anybody and not by the rankings.the fans want witter.youd think hatton wud want 2 shut him up.he knows witter with power in both hands wud knock him out comfortably.doubt hatton will ever recover from the punneling maywhether gave him.witter wud av given him a far harder fight.whats his brother ever done.if it wasnt 4 ricky nobody wud ever had heard from him.hes pretty average at best against nobodys.jus like juan
Roger Mayweather summed Hatton up when he said he was a "high profile club fighter" before his nephew Floyd destroyed him.
And remember Floyd is a non puncher who hadn't knocked anybody out for 2 years before he fought Hatton.