Ricky Hatton: who is ex-world champion boxer making comeback, boxing record, stats, age, who is son Campbell?

Former world boxing champion Ricky Hatton has announced a sensational return to the ring, a decade after his last fight.

Hatton announced that his exhibition fight comeback will take place in Manchester on 2 July against another former world champion, Mexican boxer Marco Antonio Barrera.

Here’s all you need to know about Ricky Hatton ahead of his comeback, including who he is, what his record as a boxer is, and how boxing runs in the family.

Who is Ricky Hatton?

Ricky John Hatton was born in Stockport, Greater Manchester on 6 October 1978.

He was raised in Hyde, where he attended school and found his first boxing gym. For his fights, he uses ‘Blue Moon’ , a song famously played at Manchester City football games, the club that Hatton supports.

Following a relatively short amatuer career, Hatton took part in his first professional fight at the age of 19 in 1997.

This took place in Widnes and was a fight which Hatton won by technical knockout.

His next fight took him overseas and saw him fight on the undercard of  Naseem Hamed vs. Kevin Kelley at Madison Square Gardens in New York.

Hatton’s first titles

Hatton’s first international title came in 1999 with the defeat of Dillon Carew for the WBO inter-continental light-welterweight title.

Until 2006, Hatton fought in the light welterweight division.

His first fight in the welterweight division saw Hatton win the WBA welterweight title against American fighter Luis Collazo in May 2006.

Fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr

Hatton moved between these two weight divisions again in 2006 and 2007, and it was in December 2007 that Hatton fought Floyd Mayweather Jr in what was adjudged to be the biggest welterweight fight since 1999.

A feisty affair, Hatton missed out to Mayweather Jr in a fight which was heavily anticipated and promoted by both camps.

Fighting Manny Pacquiao

Another notable fight involving Hatton was the 2009 bout against Manny Pacqiuao in Las Vegas.

The Filipino beat Hatton in the second round, and this led to a year long hiatus from the sport for Hatton.

In a 2010 interview, Hatton suggested that he may never fight again.

The comeback

In November 2012, Hatton returned to the ring to fight Ukrainian Vyacheslav Senchenko.

Losing in the ninth round, Hatton later announced his permanent retirement from the sport.

What has Ricky Hatton done since retiring?

Outside of the ring, Hatton has continued to be a big influence in the sport.

He has set up his own promotions company which has over a dozen fighters on its books.

On 11 February 2017 Zhanat Zhakiyanov became the first fighter under Hatton Promotions, as well as trained by Hatton, to become world champion when he won the WBA bantamweight title.

Hatton is a big supporter of charity and in 2013 he became a patron for Manchester based homeless charity Barnabus.

When is Ricky Hatton’s comeback fight?

Hatton’s exhibition fight is due to take place at the Manchester Arena on 2 July 2022.

He is to fight Mexican former world champion Marco Antionio Barrera in what will be the first fight for either boxer in a decade.

How can I get tickets?

Understandably, one of the biggest questions being asked by boxing fans is ‘how can I get tickets for the fight?’

Following the announcement of the fight, Hatton shared ticket information on his Twitter page, and included a link to an official website for the fight.

Tickets for the fight aren’t yet on sale, but fans can register their interest.

To do this, you can visit the official Hatton v Barrera website and leave your details.

You will be contacted when tickets for the fight go on sale.

Who is Campbell Hatton?

Born in Manchester in 2001, Campbell Hatton is Ricky’s son. He has followed in his dad’s footsteps to become a boxer.

He made his debut on the undercard of Dillian Whyte v Alexander Povetkin in March 2021.

His second fight was on the undercard of Anthony Joshua v Oleksandr Usyk in September 2021.

Hatton won both of these fights.