RICKY HATTON has been told his best days are behind him after announcing his return to boxing.
The 46-year-old British legend is set to face Eisa Aldah in Dubai on December 2 in what will be his first fight in 13 YEARS.
Sky UK LtdRicky Hatton is making a boxing comeback[/caption]
News Group Newspapers LtdDennis Hobson, left, with Hatton in 2006[/caption]
But his former promoter Dennis Hobson told the Sheffield Star: “Obviously, his ‘sell-by’ date has gone.
“I love Ricky and what he brings to the table, and he’s still got a lot of support, but you know his best days are behind him.”
Last November, heavyweight great Mike Tyson came out of retirement aged 58 and after 20 years to fight Jake Paul.
And he laboured to defeat against the YouTuber-turned-boxer over eight shorter two-minute rounds.
Hobson added: “You saw what Mike Tyson was like when he fought Jake Paul, it was sad to watch, and I don’t want the same for Ricky because I’ve got a lot of time for him.”
Hatton – one of the UK’s most beloved boxers – won world titles at 140lb and 147lb.
But he struggled to cope with losses to Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao – first retiring in 2012 after defeat to Vyacheslav Senchenko.
Hatton overcame a fight with depression and substance abuse when his career ended and later became a trainer.
And he did return to the ring in 2022 for an exhibition against Mexican great Marco Antonio Barrera.
Now he takes on the Gulf’s first ever professional fighter in Aldah – who is also 46 and has not boxed professionally since 2021.
The bout with Hatton is set to go on their records as a middleweight contest.
Hobson said: “Unless he’s doing it for charity, I don’t get the point of it all.
“If it were for charity, that’s something I’d get involved with, but I don’t want to see him in a competitive match.”
GettyJake Paul beat Mike Tyson, who was 58 at the time[/caption]
Youtube/ EISA ALDAHEisa Aldah is the man fighting Hatton[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
