Ricky "Hitman" Hatton confirms comeback fight on December 2 in Dubai

Ricky "Hitman" Hatton confirms December bout in Dubai

At the age of 46, Ricky "Hitman" Hatton (45-3, 32 KOs) will fight on December 2 in Dubai against Eisa Al Dah at middleweight.

Also aged 46, Eisa Al Dah (8-3, 4 KOs) was known as the 'Arabian Warrior' during his pro career, which spanned from 2007-2021. Now a promoter of EMD Fight Night, he has staged a dozen events since 2022.

History-making Al Dah is the United Arab Emirates' first-ever professional boxer having made his debut in March 2007 against Larry Foster.

Hatton was due to fly out to Dubai ahead of the press conference to launch the bout. However, he was forced to remain at home after he sustained an eye injury during the Oasis reunion concert in Cardiff and was not cleared to travel until it was healed.

Hatton and the Gallagher brothers, Noel and Liam, go way back. The Oasis duo were there in 2008 to escort the Manchester native to the ring ahead of his win over Paulie Malignaggi.

Although he could not be there in person, Hatton appeared via video call to talk up the fight.

"I'm very much looking forward to it myself, to be honest with you," Hatton said.

"It will be a true fight, true action.

"And I will do my best, because everybody in the UAE and the Gulf, they will watch this fight.

"The place will be sold out and it will be watched around the world."

Hatton remains one of Britain's best-ever and most popular fighters, having amassed a staggering 43-0 record before he was beaten for the first time in December 2007 by Floyd Mayweather Jr for the WBC and The Ring welterweight straps.

In that dazzling unbeaten streak, Hatton won multiple world titles in the super-lightweight division and one at welterweight.

His crowning moment came in June 2005 when he dethroned Australia's Kostya Tszyu to claim the IBF and The Ring super lightweight crowns.

Following the defeat to 'Money' Mayweather, Hatton picked up back-to-back wins over Juan Lazcano and Paulie Malignaggi to retain his IBO and The Ring super lightweight titles.

But he lost his world champion status when he was knocked out by Manny Pacquaio in May 2009. Pacquaio himself is also on the comeback trail and will return to the ring in July 2025 to take on Mario Barrios at the age of 46.

Hatton, meanwhile, took a two-and-a-half year absence from the ring after the loss to Pacquiao, but ended it in November 2012 against Vyacheslav Senchenko.

He returned to the ring in 2022 against Marco Antonio Barrera in an exhibition bout.

The Hitman was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2024.