Ricky Hatton has cast doubt on Tyson Fury's retirement plans, suggesting his close friend could return to the ring for a blockbuster fight with Anthony Joshua.
Fury announced his retirement in January following back-to-back defeats against Oleksandr Usyk last year.
The decision appeared to end hopes of a long-awaited showdown with Joshua.
However, Hatton believes the right financial offer could tempt the Gypsy King back into action.
Tyson Fury retired from boxing earlier this year to plunge hopes of a fight with Anthony Joshua into doubt
PA
"I would take that retirement with a pinch of salt knowing Tyson," Hatton told Sky Sports.
"If he gets offered the right money, the right purse for the AJ fight, knowing Tyson as I do, I think he'd jump at it."
Hatton, who helped corner Fury during his 2018 comeback, believes his friend might come to regret walking away from a potential Joshua clash.
JUST IN:Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift relationship update after rumours over 'seriously awkward chats'
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have been the subject of fight speculation for a number of years
PA
"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?'" Hatton said.
He added: "He's in a position to do something about it now rather than be cursing himself for the rest of his life."
The potential two-fight deal with Joshua had been discussed for years before Fury's retirement announcement.
Both fighters have long been linked but have never met in the ring.
Despite suggesting Fury might return, Hatton also expressed support for his friend's retirement decision.
"I'd like to see him retire. I think he's done enough," Hatton said.
"Let's have it right, a few years ago when he was 26st, we never thought he'd fight again.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
- Lewis Hamilton sets off alarm bells at Ferrari immediately after qualifying eighth for Australian Grand Prix
- Tiger Woods 'secretly dating' Vanessa Trump with Donald Trump Jr 'cool' with new relationship
- Travis Kelce 'supporting' Taylor Swift with singer 'in hiding and worried about dragging people into mess'
"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.
"He's got nothing left to prove."
Hatton pointed to Fury's impressive performances against Usyk compared to other challengers, even though his friend was unable to come out on top.
"His fights against Usyk were I think a lot closer than AJ's fights with Usyk," he noted.
Ricky Hatton has cast doubt on Tyson Fury's retirement plans, suggesting his close friend could return to the ring for a blockbuster fight with Anthony Joshua
PA
"I think Usyk won both the fights against Tyson but I can see why other people thought Tyson might have won them."
The boxing world will now watch closely to see if Fury maintains his retirement stance.
Or if, as Hatton suggests, the right offer for a Joshua showdown might yet tempt the Gypsy King back for one final chapter.
