Ricky Hatton, with a record of 45 wins, 3 losses, and 32 knockouts, revealed on Sunday that he will come out of retirement for a fight in December, marking a return 13 years after his last pro bout. The 46-year-old former world champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee from last year is set to face UAE’s Aisalda, who has an 8-3 record with 4 knockouts, at a middleweight event scheduled for December 2nd in Dubai.
Hailing from Manchester, England, Hatton made the announcement through a live stream hosted by the promotion group Al Da. Despite dealing with an eye injury and not being physically present, he expressed enthusiasm about the fight going ahead and his eagerness to compete again.
Hatton’s last professional fight ended with a knockout loss to Vyacheslav Senchenko in 2012. Throughout his career, he landed notable wins against fighters like Jose Luis Castillo and Luis Colaz, while suffering high-profile defeats to Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. He also took part in an exhibition match against Marco Antonio Barrera in 2022.
Event organizers confirmed that Hatton’s comeback will be in a legitimate professional match. His opponent, 46-year-old Alda, experienced his most recent fight with a knockout loss to Pedro Alejandro Delgado in 2021.
Fan Take: Ricky Hatton’s return is thrilling news for fight enthusiasts, as it revives interest in a celebrated boxing icon known for his heart and skill. This comeback could reignite competitive spirit in the sport and draw significant attention to the middleweight division on a global scale.