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Gareth Lloyd -
30th January 2020
Gareth Lloyd -
30th January 2020 News
Boxing legend Ricky Hatton is coming out of retirement after more than a decade
Danny Jones
Mancunian and British boxing legend Ricky Hatton MBE is coming out of retirement after more than a decade for his first competitive fight in 13 long years.
This is sure to be one to watch.
The Stockport-born and Hattersley-raised fighter first retired back in 2011, but did flirt with a comeback a year later in what turned out to be a one-off fight and defeat to 35-year-old Ukrainian welterweight, Vyacheslav Senchenko.
‘Hitman’ Hatton also got back in the ring for an exhibition match against Marco Antonio Barrera in 2022, enduring eight two-minute rounds after a decade away from fighting, but now he’ll be undertaking an official fight over in the United Arab Emirates.
Lacing up his gloves at 46 years old, Hatton will be facing fellow veteran Eisa Al Dah (same age), who was the first professional boxer in the UAE.
The ‘Pride of Hyde’ may have been out of the competitive sporting sphere for a while, but he’s still remained an active figure in the boxing world.
In addition to training his son, Campbell, who has followed in his father’s fighting footsteps, Hatton has continued to coach other young boxing talents from his gym in Tameside, including John Hedges and Chloe Watson.
Campbell, 24, has won 14 of his 16 fights, losing just twice since he began in 2021.
Meanwhile, his dad – who still boasts a record of 45 victories from 48 matches, 32 of which were by knockout – will be once again focusing on getting himself back in fighting shape for the Dubai bout.
The local athlete has done plenty to dispel the old jabs of ‘Ricky Fatton’ in recent times, mind you, having taken his talents as a once-promising young footballer to play in the Manchester Remembers charity match, as well as the aforementioned Barrera exhibition.
Fight! Fight! Fight!
— Ricky Hatton MBE (@HitmanHatton) July 6, 2025
It’s official.
2nd December 2025
The Agenda, Dubai.#boxing #fight #fighter #event 🥊🥊🥊🥊🥊 pic.twitter.com/hxIfcT8Q99
Set for this winter, Ricky Hatton will face fellow veteran Eisa Al Dah in a middleweight contest on Friday, 2 December, telling national media via video call in the recent press conference that confirmed he would be coming out of retirement: “What you’re trying to do there for boxing in Dubai is fantastic.”
Meanwhile, Al Dah added: “It will be a true fight, true action. And I will do my best, because everybody in the UAE and the Gulf, they will watch this fight. The place will be sold out, and it will be watched around the world.”
Will those Haymakers still hit like they used to? Well shall see before the end of the year.
Read more:
- Man United’s new signing Diego León has been labelled ‘like no other’ in his position
- Five free places to watch Wimbledon on the big screen in Manchester this summer
- The latest on Salford Red Devils’ financial situation as ‘winding-up’ petition is adjourned
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Featured Images — Russell Harry Lee (via Flickr)/Eisa Al Dah (screenshot via Instagram)
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Mika announces first-ever arena gig in Manchester next year
Thomas Melia
Global popstar and certified hitmaker Mika announces massive gig in Manchester set for next year as part of a huge string of world tour dates.
If you hear the name Mika and don’t instantly scream out, “I could be brown, I could be blue
I could be violet sky”, you’re definitely on the wrong side of history.
This star has been pumping out hits like no other with singles ‘Grace Kelly’, ‘Lollipop’, ‘Relax, Take It Easy’, and plenty more since entering the music scene back in 2007.
Back in 2013, the Lebanon-born performer even released a Wicked-inspired duet ‘Popular Song’ with honorary Manc, Ariana Grande, called ‘Popular Song’ – with the latter going on to play Glinda in the live action musical.
Now, the global singer-songwriter is ready to head out on his biggest tour to date, and he’s playing a variety of venues, including our trusty 21,000 seater AO Arena.
Mika has become a staple in UK culture in more recent years, thanks to his appearance on hit TV talent search show ‘The Piano’, with the latest series taking a trip to Sheffield Train Station earlier this year.
The ‘Grace Kelly’ penman found himself hitting a career pinnacle back in 2022 when he co-presented one of the music calendar’s biggest highlights: the Eurovision Song Contest.
With six studio albums to his name and another LP on the way, this upcoming run of shows will be nothing less than impressive.
Our friends over at The Hoot got an exclusive preview of the title track from Mika’s upcoming album ‘Spinning Out’ when he played a special set as part of Sounds in the City at Millennium Square.
As well as being known for his smash hit singles, another big talking point is Mika’s extravagant stage, one we’re sure the Manchester crowd will be embracing with open arms.
The last time Mika paid Manchester a visit was just last year at one of the city’s many live music venues, O2 Apollo, on his ‘Apocalypse Calypso’ tour, and he’s clearly eager to see our lovely faces once again.
Mika is embarking on the ‘Spinning Out’ tour and paying a visit to AO Arena in Manchester on 11 February 2026, with tickets on sale from Friday 11 July at 10am HERE.
Read more:
- We got to see a music legend from the best seats in the house – here’s how you can too
- Bob Vylan dropped from Manchester music festival following Glastonbury controversy
- Lewis Capaldi announces MASSIVE comeback gig in Manchester this year
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Featured Images – Press shots (supplied via AO Arena)
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