Former multiple boxing world champion Ricky Hatton is making a comeback, more than a decade after his retirement.
Hatton, 46, will fight Eisa Al Dah of the UAE in Dubai in a middleweight bout on 2 December.
Al Dah announced the fight on Sunday, with Hatton confirming his comeback on a livestream.
Ricky ‘The Hitman” Hatton won multiple world titles at welterweight and light-welterweight.
He isn’t the only British fighter stepping back into the ring, with Tyson Fury making a retirement u-turn for the fifth time.
Ricky Hatton Comeback Fight Confirmed For December
Speaking after the announcement, Hatton explained he missed the event after injuring his eye with his sunglasses.
Hatton said: “I wish I was there, but I had a little bad injury on my eye. The main thing is the fight will take place and I can’t wait, I’m really looking forward to it.
“It’s just one of them freakish things, I caught one of my sunglasses in my eyes and I’m very fortunate it’s not done any permanent damage. It’s just scraped the surface, so fingers crossed we’re good to go.”
đ„ Announced: Ricky Hatton is coming out of retirement after 13 years to fight Eisa Al Dah on Dec 2nd in Dubai, UAE.
Hatton will be 47 at the time of the fight, Al Dah will be 46. pic.twitter.com/v9Jkg6hJvb
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) July 7, 2025
Hatton won 45 of his 48 professional fights. During an illustrious, 15-year career, he beat both Kostya Tszyu and Jose Luis Castillo in world title fights.
Defeats to Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquaio were followed in 2012 by his last professional fight, when he lost to Ukrainian Vyacheslav Senchenko.
Former opponent Pacquiao, also 46, is set to return to the ring on 19 July, facing WBCÂ welterweight champion Mario Barrios.
Hatton’s comeback opponent Al Dah has won eight of his 11 bouts. The Emirati boxer hasn’t boxed since 2021, when he was beaten by Mexican Pedro Alejandro Delgado.
Ricky Hatton’s Ex-Girlfriend Sends A Message Of Support
Although no longer Ricky Hatton’s girlfriend, Coronation Street star Claire Sweeney has offered her support for the boxer.
Posting via Instagram, Sweeney said:Â “This is brilliant @rickyhitmahatton.”
The pair developed a romance after appearing together on Dancing on Ice in 2024.
Sweeney had previously been married to Tony Hibbard (2001-2007) and Daniel Reilly (2013-2015).
Hatton has never been married, but was in a long-term relationship with Jennifer Dooley from 2005-2016.
Claire and Ricky went on holiday together after a blossoming romance, but were confirmed to have split in December.
However, the pair remain close friends.
Ricky Hatton Net Worth
Since retiring 13 years ago, Ricky Hatton has worked as a promoter.
He joined the family carpet business upon leaving school, and at one stage had trials as a footballer.
But after opting to pursue boxing, he had his first fight in 1997.
According to reports, Hatton has an estimated net worth of around ÂŁ30 million.
