Ricky Hatton has called for a former champion in the banner division to walk away from the sport for good.
Hatton himself retired in 2009 after a KO defeat to Manny Pacquiao, but then came back for one final shot in 2012. After that fight with Vyacheslav Senchenko ended in a 9th-round knockout, he once again hung up the gloves, this time for good.
Right now, many heavyweight boxers are at the end of their time in the sport with just a few fights left at the top, be that Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua or Oleksandr Usyk.
One man, Tyson Fury, has already announced his retirement, doing so back in January after back-to-back losses to Usyk.
Speaking to Sky Sports Boxing, Hatton expressed his view that Fury, a close friend, has accomplished plenty and should remain retired.
“I’d like to see him retire. I think he’s done enough. I would like to see the AJ fight but I think he’s done enough. Let’s have it right, a few years ago when he was 26st, we never thought he’d fight again. He nearly wasn’t here for all the problems that he had. So for him to do what he’s done, he’s done us all proud and I’d like to see him retire now.”
That said, Hatton recognised what a huge potential fight with long-time British rival Joshua would represent and that maybe that could be his last.
“I think Tyson will kick himself if he’s sat on his sofa 10 years down the line and thinks to himself: ‘I wonder what would have happened if I’d have fought AJ? If he does, that’s the last one I’d like him to have. Because you don’t like to see your mates get hurt.”
If former two-time world champion Fury does remain retired, he will go down as one of Britain’s best ever heavyweights, even without the Joshua fight. However, fans – and ‘AJ’s team – still call for it to happen.
