Should Ricky Hatton Retire? Trainer and Father Say It Might Be Time

How dominant a boxer is Manny Pacquiao? So dominant that even boxers who can make more than $10 million a fight question whether they should call it a career after stepping into the ring with him. First it was Oscar De La Hoya who announced his retirement after losing to Pacquiao, and now Ricky Hatton may be following in De La Hoya's footsteps.

Hatton's trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr., said after Hatton's second-round knockout loss to Pacquiao Saturday night that he would advise his fighter to hang up the gloves:

"That's boxing," said Mayweather Sr. after Hatton's loss. "I would suggest he retire. At the end of the day it's his decision. ...

"He tried twice. He failed twice. He lost to my son and to lose to someone below that, it's time to leave the ring. He made a good profit. Sometimes you have to go when your prime is still there,"

Mayweather may be right that it's time for Hatton to retire, but he's probably not the most objective observer right now: Reports surfaced in the days leading up to the fight that Hatton had grown weary of working with Mayweather and planned to fire him no matter how the Pacquiao fight turned out. So Mayweather's talk could be something of a preemptive strike against Hatton.

Pacquiao-Hatton Photos

LAS VEGAS - MAY 03: Boxers Ricky Hatton (L) and his brother Matthew Hatton of England host an event at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 3, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ricky Hatton was knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their junior welterweight title fight on May 2. Matthew Hatton won his welterweight fight against Ernesto Zepeda of Mexico on the undercard. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Hatton;Matthew Hatton

Getty Images

LAS VEGAS - MAY 03: Boxer Ricky Hatton (R) of England greets fans as he hosts an event at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 3, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hatton was knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their junior welterweight title fight on May 2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Hatton

Getty Images

LAS VEGAS - MAY 03: Boxer Ricky Hatton (R) of England borrows a hat from a fan as he hosts an event at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 3, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hatton was knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their junior welterweight title fight on May 2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Hatton

Getty Images

LAS VEGAS - MAY 03: Boxer Ricky Hatton (L) of England greets fans as he hosts an event at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 3, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hatton was knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their junior welterweight title fight on May 2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Hatton

Getty Images

LAS VEGAS - MAY 03: Boxer Ricky Hatton (R) of England poses with fans as he hosts an event at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 3, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hatton was knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their junior welterweight title fight on May 2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Hatton

Getty Images

LAS VEGAS - MAY 03: Boxer Ricky Hatton of England wears a fan's hat while hosting an event at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 3, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hatton was knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their junior welterweight title fight on May 2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Hatton

Getty Images

LAS VEGAS - MAY 03: Boxer Ricky Hatton of England hosts an event at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 3, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hatton was knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their junior welterweight title fight on May 2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Hatton

Getty Images

But Mayweather wasn't the only one talking about retirement late Saturday night. Ricky's father Ray Hatton also acknowledged that Ricky may have fought for the last time:

"At this moment in time he probably has a few mixed feelings about (retirement)," Ray Hatton added.

"It is only Ricky that can make the decision. He is very strong willed and I don't think he would let anyone make that decision for him.

"I know privately what he will be thinking in a few months time but I would not like to say because I would not want to be putting him under undue pressure."

Still, my own feeling is that Ricky Hatton will not retire. In his chat with FanHouse last week, Hatton said this:

"I've earned enough money to retire, but great champions aren't just satisfied with having money to burn. I want to have money to burn and leave a legacy. After I lost to Floyd Mayweather I had enough money to retire but a great fighter wants to come back after defeat and come back even stronger. That's how legacies are built. ... I'm hungry and I'd like to think I have maybe three more fights."

Hatton didn't sound to me like a man who wants to walk away. And the good news is that if he does fight again, he won't have to fight Pacquiao.