Ricky Hatton return: Footage of the 43-year-old shows there's a lot of work to do

Footage has emerged of Ricky Hatton MBE training before his return to the boxing ring against Marco Antonio Barrera.

The news broke that Hatton would have the gloves back on for the first time since 2012 after a tweet was sent out from his official ‘@HitmanHatton’ account.

The tweet included: “I can confirm my return to the ring. Join me for a huge party night – with top music acts – in Manchester on July 2. #HitmanRises. It’s not how you fall, it’s how you rise…”

It will be an event fuelled with nostalgia as Hatton faces off in his hometown Manchester. His last fight came in November 2012 when he was knocked out by Vyacheslev Senchenko.

In all honesty, the same outcome looks inevitable if his training footage is anything to go by. Hatton was filmed on the punching bag in the gym, looking lethargic and extremely flat footed.

However, the former light-welterweight and welterweight has three more months to develop match sharpness. 

Hatton finished his career with a remarkable 45-3 record and was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine, the Boxing Writers Association of America and ESPN back in 2005.

He said: “I got a call and was asked if I would come back to do this for the fans who have been locked up for ages during Covid. Covid has been tough for me, for everyone.

“I want to inspire people who have had mental health problems, too.

“They can look at me and say, ‘He struggled and now look at where he is’ so they can do it too.”

Ricky Hatton training for his exhibition fight with Marco Antonio Barrera on July 2nd…[