Boxing:Ricky Hatton has confirmed he will return to the ring at light-welterweight in 2010. The 31-year-old hasn't fought since that shocking second-round knockout by Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas last May.
Ever since that night his future has been the subject of much speculation, but now he has made the decision to fight on.
A statement on his official website today read: "Ricky Hatton has confirmed to Hatton TV that he will be making a return to the ring in 2010. He will start his training camp after returning from a family holiday in February. No opponent has yet been fixed not a venue and Ricky will talk with Sky TV about possible dates before any decisions are made."
The boxer added: "I've decided to make a comeback and have another fight this year - probably round about the summertime.
"There's been no opponent that has been 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.
"We're looking at the IBF champion Juan Urango, who I've already fought and beat. It's got to be a top 10-ranked pound-for-pound fighter or a world champion.
"I've boxed at such a high level and I could not have one more fight and people look at me and go 'he's just had this fight just to knock someone over and end on top'.
"I want people to say 'give Ricky his credit - he finished at the top'."
He continued: "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 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.
"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.
"So I'm going to go straight in training, shed the weight and then, when the date comes, do my usually 12-week training camp."
"You can see I've set the wheels in motion for retirement - I've got my promotional company now, got my health and fitness, got my clothing brand.
"I'm not going to have too many more fights. At the minute I'm definitely just going to have one more."
"I want to finish at the top and I know my last training camp could have been better so those are the reasons I'm giving it one more go."
Other fighters linked to a Hatton fight have been Mexican great Juan Manuel Marquez and Aussie banger Michael Katsidis.
A domestic megamatch with Amir Khan has also been mentioned, but that would appear far less likely.
Hatton has suffered just two defeats in a 47-fight pro career – to Pacquiao and a 10th-round knockout at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr in Vegas in December 2007.
-PA