Ricky Hatton admits that he is entering the final chapter of his career, but it seems that he would like it to be a blockbuster ending. He returns to Las Vegas to face Paulie Malignaggi on November 22 for the IBF lightwelterweight title and a victory could set him up for the biggest bout in British boxing history — against Oscar De La Hoya at Wembley Stadium.

The prospect of a De La HoyaHatton match was first raised in the run-up to Hatton’s bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr last December. But doubts were cast by defeat for Hatton and De La Hoya’s insistence that his non-title mega-bout with Manny Pacquiao would be his last.

However, few know De La Hoya better than Richard Schaefer, the chief executive of Golden Boy, De La Hoya’s promotional company, which promotes Hatton. And Schaefer does not believe that the meeting with the Filipino superstar on December 6 will be the six-weight world champion’s farewell bout.

“I think he is going to see how he feels after this fight,” Schaefer said. “Depending on the result, depending on how he feels, he is going to have, maybe, a couple more fights next year.”

Which brings Hatton back into the picture. He passed on the chance to stand in against De La Hoya when Mayweather retired rather than go through with a rematch against De La Hoya in Las Vegas on September 20. He has also expressed doubts about boxing at above light-welterweight again. The prospect of a 100,000 crowd at Wembley next summer, however, may prove irresistible. Hatton is 30 on Monday, but he has had no thoughts of imminent retirement and intends to have at least two bouts in 2009.

“If everything goes well and Ricky wins against Malignaggi and Oscar wins against Pacquiao, I think a De La Hoya-Hatton fight is a natural,” Schaefer said. “Both of them are, weight-wise, five to six pounds apart. That fight at Wembley Stadium is a dream of mine and a dream of many boxing fans. Sometimes dreams come true.”

Hatton believes that De La Hoya will win the mega-bout, but has his reasons for willing an upset. “He’ll be too big for Manny,” the Mancunian said. “When the fight was first mentioned, I just laughed it off. They’re like David and Goliath. I’d prefer Pacquiao to win. Then I could fight him at light-welter for all the marbles.”

Appleby award

Paul Appleby, the British featherweight champion from South Queensferry, Edinburgh, has been voted Young Boxer of the Year by the Boxing Writers' Club. The 21-year-old beat Nathan Cleverly and Kell Brook, who shared second place, in the closest vote in the club's history. Appleby, who has won all his 12 professional bouts, became the youngest British featherweight champion since Ted “Kid” Lewis when he won the title from John Simpson in June, aged 20. He will receive his award at the Dorchester, in Mayfair, Central London, on October 20.

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