Simon Parker column

Ricky Hatton on the comeback trail? Nay, nay and thrice nay!

One-time champ boxer coming out of retirement for “one last fight” is the most hackneyed storyline in sport.

And you don’t need to be Harry Hindsight to predict that sooner or later Hatton would be itching to get back in the ring for more.

He may still feel a major part of it as a promoter and trainer. But just like any football manager will tell you, it’s not the same buzz as actually being there in the thick of the action.

Hatton might have bigger issues than simple personal pride. Sky’s TV deal with rival Eddie Hearn has left his own stable stuck on the outside looking in.

What better publicity for his other fighters than the main man relacing his gloves for another shot at the big time. The fans – of which he still has more than any boxer can dream off – would lap it up hearing the strains of “Blue Moon” once again.

But that doesn’t make it right. In fact, Hatton’s return would do far more harm to British boxing than good.

After the embarrassment of the Luxembourg-backed Haye and Chisora street brawl, the last thing the domestic board of control need now is a faded reminder of halcyon days gone by.

The Ricky Hatton of 2012 would be a shadow of the one that famously disposed of Kostya Tszyu. He would be nowhere near as strong as the outgunned victim stopped by Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao – and that pulverising by the Pacman was more than three years ago.

Cleverly, the name of Paulie Malignaggi has been floated as a likely opponent – someone with enough trash-talking Brooklyn in him to puts bums on seats. Bums being the operative word.

Malignaggi may have bounced back from defeat to Hatton in 2008. But he is not known as “feather-fisted” for nothing.

A Hatton comeback would grip the media and the boxing public. But it would achieve nothing, other than filling his considerable pockets and smoothing his ego to match.

Hatton’s place among the British boxing heroes is assured. He should be proud enough to leave it at that.