Ricky Hatton Confirms He Will Return To The Ring At 43 To Fight Marco Antonio Barrera

Ricky Hatton has confirmed he will return to the ring at the age of 43 with a comeback fight against Mexican great Marco Antonio Barrera.

Hatton will take on former three-weight world champion Barrera, 48, in an eight-round exhibition fight in Manchester on July 2.

Hatton tweeted: "I can confirm my return to the ring.

"Join me for a huge party night - with top music acts - in Manchester on July 2. #HitmanRises.

"It's not how you fall, it's how you rise…"

A former two-weight world champion, Hatton initially retired from boxing in 2009 after a second-round TKO defeat to Manny Pacquaio in Las Vegas.

He made a brief comeback in 2012 but was stopped by Vyacheslav Senchenko in the ninth round of their fight at the Manchester Arena.

The same venue is now set to host his upcoming fight Barrera, who retired from boxing in 2011 – two years after losing to Amir Khan in Manchester.

The fight between Hatton and Barrera will not be scored and no winner will be announced.

Hatton says he was inspired to return to the ring after watching Mike Tyson's exhibition bout with Roy Jones Jr in November.

And the 'Hitman' hopes his return to the canvas to "give fans a boost" following the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I am doing this for fans who struggled being locked up with Covid,” Hatton said.

"I got a call and was asked if I would come back to do this for the fans who have been locked up for ages after Covid.

"Covid has been tough for me, for everyone. I want to inspire people who have had mental health problems, too.

"They can look at me and say 'He struggled and now look at where he is' so they can do it too."