RICKY HATTON has confirmed SunSport’s exclusive that he is considering a boxing comeback aged 43.
The legendary Manchester Hitman hung up his gloves in 2012 after a ninth-round loss to Vyacheslav Senchenko but has kept himself in decent shape.
The former two-weight world champion is set to lock horns with fellow great Marco Antonio Barrera in an exhibition bout later this year – as revealed by us last week.
Now he has revealed to Sky Sports that he has been inspired to come out of retirement thanks to Mike Tyson’s epic return against Roy Jones Jr in November 2000.
Hatton said: “I think it very much could happen.
“My best days are very much behind me but then these exhibitions started happening. I saw the first one between Roy Jones and Mike Tyson and I thought ‘Well, yeah’.
“People have asked me if I would be interested in doing something like that and I have always said ‘Yes, if the right person comes along.’
“From my point of view, Marco Antonio Barrera has been linked with me. Who wouldn’t want to share a ring with him? He’s an idol, he’s a boxing icon.
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“Marco has been a friend of mine for years. To share a ring with Marco Antonio Barrera or Miguel Cotto or Juan Manuel Marquez, I would love the chance of doing that.
“I haven’t heard anything yet but if something is forthcoming, I would definitely look at it.”
Former heavyweight champs Tyson and Jones Jr kicked off the trend in November 2020 when they returned for a lucrative exhibition bout.
Ex-Tyson rival Evander Holyfield also made a shock return to the ring last year at the age of 58 but was wiped out by former UFC light-heavyweight champ Vitor Belfort.
Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya has also set his sights on a comeback bout, which was due to be against Belfort before he was hospitalised with Covid.
Hatton’s career-defining fight was his unforgettable war with Kostya Tszyu in front of a capacity crowd at the MEN Arena in June 2005.
The Hitman produced a sensational display in the 11th round to force the Australian to quit on his stool and relinquish the IBF and The Ring light-welterweight titles.
