HATTON’S BACK IN BUSINESS AFTER PACQUIAO HUMILIATION

RICKY HATTON is back in the gym – exactly two months after his X-rated KO at the hands of Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

His presence at his new training centre in north Manchester is fuelling rumours that he intends to return to the ring rather than finally hang up his gloves after ­almost a decade at the top.

But the truth is that the ‘Hitman’ is still genuinely in a quandary over the biggest decision of his career with one of his closest aides ­saying the gym return is purely just a case of Ricky “keeping in shape.”

Hatton has been agonising over both options since that stunning second round KO by Pacquiao.

It left many of those who know him well, including myself, calling on him to call it a day.

The 30-year-old’s parents Ray and Carol and his fiancée Jennifer are known to be concerned about the damage to his health that any further punishing fights could inflict on the all-action light- welterweight.

Ray, who is also Ricky’s manager, said: “It has to be his decision and whatever he decides his family will stand by him.”

Hatton has lost just two of his 47 fights and believes that he can still be a force to be reckoned with.

But Gareth Williams, the fighter’s lawyer and chief executive officer of Hatton Promotions, says that nothing should be read into the fact Hatton is going through his paces at the gym.

“Ricky was often criticised for ballooning in weight between fights but he has been going to the gym purely from a fitness perspective,” he said.

But a close friend of Hatton’s revealed: “One day he may talk about carrying on because he feels he let his army of fans down.

“The next he may go the other way, wondering if another heavy defeat would cause him ill-health.”

There are plenty of offers to tempt Hatton and he knows he can make a return this autumn in Manchester or further afield.