Hatton and Khan at a crossroads

They were sparked by recent pictures of the former world champion looking in fighting shape. Given the considerable weight he normally sits at when inactive, they may well have something to them.

The speculation surrounding the possibility of a Hatton comeback mentions a return fight with New York's Paulie Malignaggi in Manchester either towards the end of this year or the beginning of next.

The Hitman, as Hatton was affectionately known by his legion of fans during his career, has been out of the ring since going down to a brutal second-round KO against Manny Pacquiao in May 2009.

It was the second loss of a professional career in which the Mancunian fought 47 times, winning 45 and losing twice. The second of those losses came against Floyd Mayweather Jnr at the end of 2007, when he went down to a KO in the ninth.

Both Hatton's losses were against two of the sport's all-time greats and in no way can be viewed as an indictment of his career or achievements in the ring. Nonetheless it is known he remains unhappy about the way he went out.

The history of boxing is littered with former champions and ex-fighters finding retirement impossible. The lure of the ring, the glory and adulation, the sense of purpose gained from training and sparring, has impaired the judgment of many ex-fighters, who believing they still have what it takes after a few years out of the sport to attempt a comeback. The vast majority come unstuck.

Despite his KO by Pacquiao, Hatton has nothing to prove. His all-action, come-forward style ensured many exciting nights for his army of fans, which followed him all over the world.

No British boxer has ever been as popular and it's highly unlikely that any ever will be. He left the sport financially secure and with his health intact. Let's hope he stays retired.

Another British fighter whose contests are rarely dull is Amir Khan. His recent defeat to Danny Garcia was the second KO he's suffered as a professional and led to calls from some quarters for him to retire.

But Khan has shrugged off the suggestion he's finished and is determined to regain his title along with his place at the elite level.

According to reliable sources, the former Olympic silver medallist and light welterweight world champion is in the process of choosing a new trainer.

With Freddie Roach's priority still Manny Pacquaio, Khan and his team have it seems decided the time has come to move on.

This may be no bad thing in itself. The danger may be expecting a new trainer to change his style to the point where he develops a defence to rival that of Floyd Mayweather.

A fighter's style reflects his personality. Attempting to turn an aggressive and offensive fighter into a defensive genius, especially one at an advanced stage in his career like Khan, could be folly.

Khan's priority should be to work on his existing strengths to the point where his defence is a perfect offense.

An aggressive style brings with it risks. But the masters of this style make sure those risks are always calculated.

Khan's weakness is the tendency to switch off when he's in the pocket and leave himself open to counters. At his level the difference between victory and defeat is measured in millimetres and split seconds.

It will be interesting to see how his career progresses from here.