By Matthew Hurley: Ricky Hatton, 43-1 with 31 KOs is looking to jump right back into the world title mix by taking on World Boxing Association light-welterweight champion Gavin Rees, 27-0 with 13 KOs, possibly in May. Hatton, last seen in the ring in a losing effort against Floyd Mayweather, has been weighing his options since his first defeat but has said that he wants his return bout to be in Manchester. Rees, a stablemate of super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe and trained by his father Enzo, won the WBA title with an upset over Souleymane M’Baye on July 21st.
The Daily Mail reports that talks between Rees’s promoter Frank Warren and Hatton’s advisors have begun and that regardless of who Hatton does step into the ring with the fight will be broadcast on HBO.
Hatton, still rated number one at light welterweight, has been on sabbatical but plans to return to the gym in February. The fighter also continues to wave off the challenge of World Boxing Council light welterweight champion Junior Witter, despite the fact that it has become a much talked about fight amongst British fans. Hatton’s father Ray acknowledged that a fight with Witter is not out of the question but it would definitely not occur in Ricky’s next bout.
In other news, WBA super flyweight champion Alexander Munoz of Venezuela won a twelve round unanimous decision over Katsushige Kawashima in Japan. Munoz improved to 32-2 with 27 KOs. Kawashima, the former WBC champion, fell to 32-7 with 21 KOs and announced his retirement.
Munoz reclaimed the WBA title in May with a unanimous decision victory over Nobuo Nashiro.
Finally, WBO super featherweight champion Joan Guzman, 28-0 with 17 KOs will return to the ring in March or April. Prospective opponents include WBO mandatory challenger Alex Arthur, 26-1 with 19 KOs or Roman Martinez, 17-0 with 10 KOs. Guzman won a unanimous decision over Humberto Soto in November.
Should Guzman face Martinez the bout would take place on the close to being signed undercard of the Bernard Hopkins – Joe Calzaghe fight in April in Las Vegas at a site yet to be determined. If he faces Arthur the bout could wind up on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao – Juan Manuel Marquez rematch on March 15th at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.
As with all ongoing negotiations there remain some denials as to whether the bout will be finalized. According to Frank Warren’s promotional group spokesman Richard Maynard, a fight between Arthur and Guzman is only in the talking stage.
“As far as I am aware,” he told the Scotsman.com, “nothing at all has been definitely agreed, discussed or decided in connection with the situation of a title bout between Alex Arthur and Joan Guzman as negotiations are ongoing.”