Ricky Hatton, 46, to make boxing comeback in Dubai
The Manchester native, who turns 47 in October, will face Eisa Al Dah in Dubai on Dec. 2, it has been announced.
Hatton (45-3) has not fought since losing in his last comeback bout to Vyacheslav Senchenko in November 2012.
'Fight! Fight! Fight! It's official,' Hatton posted on X.
He won world titles at welterweight and light-welterweight, with his other two losses coming against pound-for-pound greats Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.
He is the latest former champion to announce a comeback long after retirement in a growing market for such events, with Pacquiao, Mike Tyson, Roy Jones Jr. and Julio César Chávez Jr. all making lucrative returns.
Al Dah, also 46, has not fought since 2021 and only once since 2012. But he was adamant it will be action packed.
'It will not be like the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight,' Al Dah said. It will be a true fight. True action and I will do my best.'
Hatton became a British sporting hero after winning epic battles against Kostya Tszyu, José Luis Castillo and Paulie Malignaggi. They earned him clashes with Mayweather and Pacquiao — but both ended in knockout defeats.
He retired for the first time after his brutal second round knockout defeat against Pacquiao in 2009, but returned more than three years later and fought Ukrainian Senchenko at the Manchester Arena.
That fight also ended in defeat with a ninth-round stoppage that left Hatton in tears.
Since retiring, Hatton has trained other fighters in his Manchester gym.
He said he hoped his fight would lead to more being staged in Dubai.
'There's a market for it,' he said, 'and I think it'll be a sensational evening.'
___
James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
What a shot by Pete Nance
How England Bounced Back Against The Netherlands At Euro 2025 | Full Time Review What a response from England. With the Lionesses Euro 2025 title hopes on the line, they bounced back from an opening match defeat to France to thrash the Netherlands 4-0 on Matchday 2 of the group stage. On the second edition of Full Time Euros, Charlotte Harpur joins the podcast from Zurich to break down how England produced one of the best performances of the Sarina Wiegman era. Did the outside pressure ever reach the players? What makes Lauren James so special? And, what tactical adjustments did Wiegman get so right? 15:45 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
San Francisco Chronicle
21 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Euro 2025: Wales feels call of history to beat England and eliminate defending champ
ST. GALLEN, Switzerland (AP) — In a game of soccer or any sport, Wales always wants to beat England. At the Women's European Championship on Sunday, Wales can eliminate the defending champion English just with a draw in the final round of Group D games. Group leader France plays the third-placed Netherlands at the same time. 'As a Welsh woman, do you want to knock England out? Of course you do,' captain Angharad James said on Saturday. 'It's in our blood, it's in our DNA. 'There's no hiding behind the history of Wales versus England, whatever sport you are playing in. It's a rivalry match.' Wales, like all of England's neighbors in the United Kingdom, takes extra satisfaction in those sporting victories, with its longest tradition being in men's rugby. It makes sense to Wales coach Rhian Wilkinson, a former Canada international player whose mother is Welsh. 'As a Canadian next to the U.S. I can understand big rivalries,' Wilkinson said. 'This will only benefit the women's game.' France tops the group with six points, England and the Netherlands have three and Wales is on zero after back-to-back big losses. Wales has never beaten England in 10 previous meetings and has only the longest of shots to finish second in the standings with a first victory on Sunday. Its more likely role is blocking England's path to the quarterfinals. England can rise above France and finish top, yet also could secure second place — and a quarterfinal against Sweden — with a win, draw or even a loss. 'My women,' Wales coach Wilkinson said, 'get to show up and spoil the party and that's a wonderful job to have.' Welsh hearts and souls will be on display when its anthem is sung rousingly before kickoff in the stadium at St. Gallen, though England defender Alex Greenwood said her own team and fans should not be underestimated. 'If you want to speak about passion I think the English are very, very passionate people,' Greenwood said. 'The atmosphere is going to be great and something we should all look forward to.' ___
New York Times
36 minutes ago
- New York Times
Nottingham Forest players trust Evangelos Marinakis to reinvest in squad
Ryan Yates has said Nottingham Forest players trust club owner Evangelos Marinakis to reinvest in the squad this summer. The Forest captain was speaking after Anthony Elanga completed his £52million transfer to Newcastle United on Friday, while Tottenham Hotspur have submitted a £60m bid for Morgan Gibbs-White. Advertisement Yates, 27, believes the example of Brennan Johnson's £47.5million move to Spurs in July 2023 is a reason for positivity; Forest used that money to sign Elanga from Manchester United and Callum Hudson-Odoi from Chelsea, for a combined fee of around £20m. 'It is only a blow if you have an owner who does not invest,' Yates said. 'But ours has shown repeatedly that he does invest. When Brennan left everyone was gutted about it. But that money was reinvested so well, into the team. 'The main thing we have had has been stability. We do not get too disappointed with results or transfers. We just trust the owner that he will continue to invest in the club and the team and that people at the club just do their job, as they have done in the past.' Forest believe Tottenham's efforts to sign the midfielder amount to an illegal approach, while they have concerns over how they came to know about a confidential sell-on clause in his contract. It is unlikely to be the end of the saga, with Tottenham having triggered that release clause. Yates, speaking after his side's 0-0 friendly draw with Chesterfield, added: 'The squad we built has just got into Europe. If we get double that kind of money (in transfer fees), you would like to think it will go somewhere really good. 'I don't know what more to say on the Morgan situation, because it has all happened so quickly. But I feel as though that, until something is done, until a player signs on the dotted line for another club, it is just speculation. 'As a player, you just accept it is a business. I do not know the ins and outs of what has happened, because it all happened so quickly. Morgan is a fantastic player and somebody who has been hugely influential for us in the Premier League. But this is football.' Yates added that Forest will miss Elanga, following his move to Newcastle, where he signed a five-year contract. Advertisement 'Anthony — what a player; what an impact he had,' Yates said. 'His performances speak for themselves but he was such a big character around the dressing room as well. He was a really top lad and will be thoroughly missed. 'I have been in the game for a few years and it is a business. Everyone has a price. We brought him from Manchester United ourselves so the club's recruitment is there to see. It is just the process. I am sure the recruitment team will do a fantastic job.' Forest's primary attacking target is Brentford's Yoane Wissa. Forest had a fresh bid for the player rejected at the end of last week, but remain hopeful of agreeing a deal for the 28-year-old. Forest also hold an interest in both Manchester City's James McAtee and the PSV winger Johan Bakayoko, although Forest face fierce competition for his signature. ()
