Hatton Announces Return to Professional Boxing After 13 Years

Former world champion Ricky Hatton declared his return to professional boxing this past Tuesday, setting the stage for his first fight in 13 years.

The esteemed 46-year-old British boxing icon, recently inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, is slated to face Eisa Al Dah of the United Arab Emirates in a middleweight match on December 2 in Dubai.

Hatton made the announcement during a promotional livestream for the upcoming fight, hosted by his opponent, Al Dah. He conveyed his disappointment at being unable to attend the event personally due to a minor eye injury.

“I regret not being there; unfortunately, I sustained a slight eye injury. The crucial aspect is that the fight will proceed as scheduled, and I am eagerly anticipating it,” Hatton stated.

He elaborated that the injury was the result of an unusual incident, saying, “It was a bizarre accident—I inadvertently caught my sunglasses in my eye. Thankfully, it didn’t cause lasting damage. It simply scratched the surface, so hopefully, I’ll be ready to go.”

Hatton’s impressive 15-year professional career saw him secure 45 victories out of 48 bouts. His most recent official fight occurred in 2012, where he was defeated by Vyacheslav Senchenko of Ukraine.

During his career, Hatton achieved significant wins against notable opponents like Jose Luis Castillo and Luis Collazo, while also facing defeats against legends such as Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.

In 2022, he made a brief return to the ring for an exhibition match against Marco Antonio Barrera. Organizers have verified that Hatton’s forthcoming fight will be a sanctioned professional contest. His opponent, Al Dah, also 46, last competed in 2021, experiencing a knockout loss to Pedro Alejandro Delgado.