You wouldn’t expect a boxing legend to get sidelined by a rock concert—but that’s exactly what happened to Ricky Hatton.
While enjoying the long-awaited Oasis reunion gig, Hatton picked up an eye injury from a flying designer accessory that’s now delayed his travel plans.
But that small setback isn’t stopping him from making headlines: the 46-year-old former world champion is stepping back into the ring for a real fight more than a decade after his last professional bout.
Official Return Set for December in Dubai
Yes, it’s happening. Ricky Hatton is officially coming out of retirement to fight again—this time in a sanctioned middleweight bout against fellow veteran Eisa Al Dah on December 2 in Dubai.
This marks Hatton’s first fully professional contest since his 2012 loss to Vyacheslav Senchenko in Manchester.
Although he dipped his toes back in the ring in 2022 with an exhibition match against Marco Antonio Barrera, this upcoming showdown is the real deal—fully sanctioned, fully competitive, and fully anticipated.
Meet the Opponent: Eisa Al Dah
Hatton’s opponent is no rookie either. Eisa Al Dah, also 46, is known as the UAE’s first-ever professional boxer.
He began his professional career back in 2007 and now, he’s getting ready to headline one of the most talked-about fights of the year.
Speaking with passion at the launch press conference, Al Dah promised fans a proper fight—not a celebrity spectacle.
“Trust me, this fight will not be like the Jake Paul and Mike Tyson fight.
It will be a true fight, true action,” he declared.
Eye Injury Keeps Hatton Away from Dubai Launch
Hatton had originally planned to be at the press event in Dubai this weekend to announce the bout, but that eye injury—courtesy of a wild Oasis reunion moment—kept him grounded in the UK.
Instead, he joined the press conference via video link, still buzzing with excitement.
“I’m very much looking forward to it myself, to be honest with you,” Hatton said.
“What you’re trying to do there for boxing in Dubai is fantastic.”
And yes, for anyone wondering—this is the same Oasis whose frontmen, Noel and Liam Gallagher, famously walked Hatton to the ring in 2008 when he beat Paulie Malignaggi in a high-profile bout.
A Look Back at Hatton’s Glory Days
Before the setbacks, before retirement, Hatton was a force of nature.
He won his first 43 fights—yes, forty-three—before running into Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2007.
That bout ended in Hatton’s first loss, but it didn’t shake his legacy.
By then, he’d already become a multiple-time world champion at super lightweight and even added a welterweight title to his name.
His most iconic night came in June 2005, when he dethroned Australia’s Kostya Tszyu in a career-defining performance to take the IBF and The Ring super lightweight titles.
The Comeback That Didn’t Go as Planned
After bouncing back from the Mayweather loss with wins over Juan Lazcano and Paulie Malignaggi, Hatton seemed poised for another chapter of dominance.
But then came Manny Pacquiao in 2009—and that devastating knockout in the second round.
It led to Hatton stepping away from the sport for over two years.
He attempted a comeback in 2012, only to be stopped by Senchenko, which seemed to close the chapter for good—until now.
A New Chapter in a Legendary Career
Now, at 46, Hatton is lacing up the gloves again, this time with a renewed sense of purpose and a chance to show he’s still got something left in the tank.
For fans who’ve followed his journey from Manchester to Vegas and back, this fight in Dubai could be another unforgettable night in a legendary career.
Let’s just hope there are no more surprise injuries from rock concerts between now and December.