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Ricky Hatton defends ring return as he reveals why he is making a shock comeback
British boxing legend Ricky Hatton has revealed why he is returning to the sport after announcing his comeback on Sunday.
The former two-weight world champion, 46, is due to face Dubai’s first-ever professional fighter, Eisa Al Dah, also 46, on December 2.
Hatton, 45-3 (32), had an exhibition bout with Mexican great Marco Antonio Barrera three years ago, but this will be his first professional contest since 2012 when he was stopped by Ukraine’s Vyacheslav Senchenko, and concerns have been raised about his decision to step back between the ropes.
However, he insisted he has not bitten off more than he can chew as he released a lengthy statement on Instagram on Monday.
“Just a quick statement at how excited I am about putting the gloves on again on December 2nd in Dubai,” Hatton’s message to fans began. “I always said after my exhibition a couple of years ago with Marco if another opportunity came up, I’d always look at it and weigh up the pros and cons. I have done and this is a good and sensible fight for me.
He added: “I’m 47 years old, not unlike my opponent, I’m not 58 years old. I’m not going into world level or straight into a world title fight. I know I’m no longer at world level these days. But I have the good sense to know what fights are good for me and what fights are beyond me. No matter how old we get in life we still have goals, ambitions, targets to set yourself.”
The former 140lb world champion has spoken openly about his mental health struggles in light of his retirement. In 2010, he entered rehabilitation after a newspaper sting saw him outed as snorting cocaine. And in 2021, Hatton spoke to Tris Dixon about the pressures that came with being a professional boxer, particularly after retirement.
Hatton said: “When world champion boxers are coming forward and saying, ‘I’ve got it. I was crying every day. Sometimes, I wakeup and think what am I doing there and that. When you have people like myself, who won the world title, and Tyson Fury and Frank Bruno, former heavyweight champions of the world, and they’re turning around and telling about the stories of how they didn’t want to get out of bed in the morning. Just kept coming home when we had an hour to ourselves and crying buckets.”
Now, Hatton says that his slated return in December has been put together in order to give him focus and a goal.
He said: “We still have a good reason to get up in the morning. Nobody more than me for my mindset and mental health. There’s a very good reason to give me focus and keep me healthy, not the opposite. Why did Mike Tyson fight again? Why is Manny Pacquiao fighting again? Why is Paulie Malignaggi fighting again? (Bare knuckle) Why is Shane Mosley fighting again? We’re fighters, it’s what we do.”
He added: “The fight’s still some way off still but can’t wait to get back in training camp again, train hard and feel good. As I have all my life I look forward to putting a show on again for everyone. I appreciate people’s concerns, but please trust me, I feel great and it will be nothing but great for me. Love Ricky. X”
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