Ricky Hatton reverted back from champion to challenger today when he officially relinquished the WBA welterweight title he claimed from Luis Collazo in Boston in May.
The move leaves the Manchester 'Hitman' without a major belt for the first time since June last year when he dethroned the great Kostya Tszyu for the IBF light-welterweight crown.
Hatton will find himself re-challenging for that same title when he steps back down to the 140lbs division to meet Colombian holder Juan Urango in Atlanta on December 9.
Hatton's promoter Dennis Hobson said the move was designed to pave the way for a pay-per-view super-fight against former lightweight star Jose Luis Castillo early next year.
Hobson said: 'We are going after Ricky's old title and although we don't want to pre-empt things, the defining fight we want is the one against Castillo.
'We have already opened talks with Castillo's promoter Bob Arum and we are confident we can make that fight for around April time. Ricky is in a very lucrative position at the moment.'
Hatton's capture of the WBA welterweight crown was mired in political issues with German Oktay Urkal overdue for a title shot.
Meanwhile the light-welterweight division looks set to flourish.
Castillo, currently under suspension for failing to make the weight for his rubber-match against Diego Corrales, will inevitably move up and Corrales has already indicated he is likely to follow suit.
Hobson added: 'Ricky just wants to be involved in defining fights. There are a whole host of defining fights opening up for him down there and that is why we have made the decision to relinquish.'
