Ricky Hatton vs. Eisa Al Dah - 2 December 2025

[Ruthless-RKO]

Ricky Hatton to end 13-year retirement for December 2 fight in Dubai

Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton will end a 13-year retirement on December 2, when he faces Eisa Al Dah in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The fight was announced Sunday at a show promoted by Al Dah in Dubai. The two fighters had to settle for a virtual showdown after the 46-year-old Hatton suffered an undisclosed eye injury while attending the kickoff of Oasis’ reunion tour this week in Cardiff, Wales. Hatton said he hoped to be able to reschedule an in-person face-off in the coming weeks.

“I’m very much looking forward to it myself,” said Hatton, 45-3 (32 KOs), an International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee in 2024. “What you’re trying to do there for boxing in Dubai is fantastic. Hopefully this will be a spinoff for more events for you to have over there and hopefully we can get the ball rolling with a bang.”

Hatton of Manchester, England last fought in 2012, when he was knocked out in nine rounds by Vyacheslav Senchenko. Prior to that, the former IBF junior welterweight and WBA welterweight titleholder had been out of the ring for over three years following his second round knockout loss to Manny Pacquiao.

Al Dah, 8-3 (4 KO), is no ring rookie himself at age 46, and boasts being the first pro boxer from the United Arab Emirates. Al Dah turned pro in 2007, winning his first three bouts but finding difficulty whenever he fought outside of the United Kingdom or Dubai, losing twice by stoppage in Mexico and a split decision to a journeyman named Anthony Woods in Florida back in 2010.

His last fight was in 2021, when he was stopped in the first round by Mexican journeyman Pedro Delgado in 2021.

Since 2022, Al Dah has operated in boxing primarily as a promoter, promoting 11 events, all in Dubai, including Sunday’s show where his fight with Hatton was announced.

“This fight will not be like the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight. This will be a true fight, true action and I will do my best,” said Al Dah.

“If I lose the fight, my head will be up. I promise you.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

https://ringmagazine.com/en/news/ricky- ... ai-aged-47

[edb1000]

Anyone paying to see these exhibitions has had their trousers taken down.

[Ruthless-RKO]

is it an exhibition?

[gp.]

is it an exhibition?

Well of course it is. Even if they claim it isn't, how could it possibly be anything else?

[forcefraser]

Its not a tickling contest

[mrbassie]

Anyone but Witter.

[Jimmy2020]

Unless Ricky is being used as a patsy for a money laundering endeavour, I don't see how this happens. It can only lose money if it's legit, surely. Nobody cares about Ricky - barely anybody under 35 even knows who he is, let alone the other chap.

[JamesPhilips]

Its not a tickling contest

If you found Eisa Al Dah in bed with your wife you’d tuck him in!

[KiwiRider]

Seen some clips of Ricky looking in solid but good shape.
It's nice to see him healthy and not running to fat, but I definitely don't want to see him fight some 46 year old vastly inexperienced promotor in some cash grab farce.
Good luck selling this. I hope the money it loses doesn't take away from genuine boxers on the way up.

[Jimmy2020]

Seen some clips of Ricky looking in solid but good shape.
It's nice to see him healthy and not running to fat, but I definitely don't want to see him fight some 46 year old vastly inexperienced promotor in some cash grab farce.
Good luck selling this. I hope the money it loses doesn't take away from genuine boxers on the way up.

Exactly.

Ricky would be an anachronism in Dubai anyway. The place is dynamic, innovative and forward thinking. He is the polar opposite of that.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Ricky Hatton moves to reassure fans he will be just fine ahead of December return

Ricky Hatton has taken to social media to explain the thought process behind his December 2 return to the ring.

Former 140 and 147lbs champion Hatton, now 46, is one of boxing’s most-beloved figures and retired in 2012 after a failed comeback against Vyacheslav Senchenko.

That came three years after his previous bout, when stopped in two rounds in Las Vegas.

Speaking to BS on Sunday, Hatton confirmed the return and that he would be fighting Eisa Al Dah in Dubai later this year.

Dah, from the United Arab Emirates, is 46 and has an 8-3 (4 KOs) record. In his last fight, he was stopped in a round in Mexico in 2021 and before that had not fought since 2012.

Hatton’s son, Campbell, followed in his father’s footsteps and turned pro, but now the 45-3 (32 KOs) Hatton – who coaches fighters at his gym in Manchester – will return.

“Just a quick statement at how excited I am to be putting the gloves on again on December 2nd in Dubai,” he wrote on Instagram. “I always said after my exhibition [against friend Marco Antonio Barrera] a couple of years ago against Marco if another opportunity came up I’d always look at it and weigh up the pros and cons.

“I have done, and this is a good and sensible fight for me. I’m 47 years old, not unlike my opponent. I’m not 58 years old. I’m not going into world level or straight into a world title fight. I know I’m no longer at world level these days. But I have the good sense to know what fights are good for me and what fights are beyond me. No matter how old we get in life, we still have goals, ambitions, targets to set yourself. We still have to have a reason to get up in the morning. “Nobody more than me for my mindset and mental health.”

Hatton has long been an advocate for talking about mental health. His life went into free fall after the Pacquiao loss, as he turned to drugs and alcohol and wrestled with suicidal thoughts.

“There’s a very good reason to give me focus and keep me healthy, not the opposite,” he added. “Why did Mike Tyson fight again? Why is Manny Pacquiao fighting again? Why is Paulie Mallignaggi fighting again? (Bare knuckle) Why is Shane Mosley fighting again? We’re fighters, it’s what we do. The fight’s still some way off still but can’t wait to get back in training camp again, train hard and feel good. As I have all my life, I look forward putting a show on again for everyone. I appreciate people’s concerns, but please trust me. I feel great and it will be nothing but great for me. Love Ricky.”

[keithmoonhangover]

As my late father would say.... boxing and grey hairs don't mix.

[JackGlad]

Unless Ricky is being used as a patsy for a money laundering endeavour, I don't see how this happens. It can only lose money if it's legit, surely. Nobody cares about Ricky - barely anybody under 35 even knows who he is, let alone the other chap.

I’m 28 and remember Ricky but guessing I may not really count as average person in this

[Tarquin Tarpaulin IV]

Ricky apparently has his house on the market?

Does he need the cash?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Ricky apparently has his house on the market?

Does he need the cash?

I know he broke up with his girlfriend few months back..

[KiwiRider]

If he wants a boxing match, he does own a gym that has a ring in it. He could pay a guy to spar with him and give himself some focus.
So it's not about the need to set goals, it's not about the need to get back in the ring.

It's about money £££

[Glass Joe]

Ricky apparently has his house on the market?

Does he need the cash?

[mickey1975]

Ricky apparently has his house on the market?

Does he need the cash?

I know he broke up with his girlfriend few months back..

Claire Sweeney? I doubt she had a claim on his cash. None of them seem to last long since the mother of his two girls.

[Glass Joe]

Maybe he's just bored in life and wants a challenge

[mickey1975]

I'd guess it's structure and goals he needs.

[Jimmy2020]

Maybe he's just bored in life and wants a challenge

If he wanted a challenge he'd quietly do HYROX or similar. He obviously misses the adoration, people cheering his name, he's said as much many times. It's desperately sad IMO.

[coneye]

Maybe he's just bored in life and wants a challenge

If he wanted a challenge he'd quietly do HYROX or similar. He obviously misses the adoration, people cheering his name, he's said as much many times. It's desperately sad IMO.

But perfectly understandable , perhaps not the most sensible of things to do , but he was a world champ , he was a good boxer and he i suppose will be in reasonable nick for his age , , So i suppose if the guy he is going in with is'nt that good its probably a good earner for him although i suspect he'll do it more for cheers and adulation than money , Masters boxing is becoming very popular in Aust and theres guys a lot older than him having there first and second fights , personaly i don't agree with it but who am i to judge ,

Suppose has long has he's sensible about the quality of opponent no harm done , , would i bother watching not a chance but many will,,, Really its about wether he wants to sell his legacy for his ego and a couple dollars , at the moment Ricky Hatton is adored by the british public and his losses were to greats , carry on with this stuff and the losses will go against him , and if he's up for sale, losses will shorely come , up to him i suppose ,

[Jimmy2020]

Maybe he's just bored in life and wants a challenge

If he wanted a challenge he'd quietly do HYROX or similar. He obviously misses the adoration, people cheering his name, he's said as much many times. It's desperately sad IMO.

But perfectly understandable , perhaps not the most sensible of things to do , but he was a world champ , he was a good boxer and he i suppose will be in reasonable nick for his age , , So i suppose if the guy he is going in with is'nt that good its probably a good earner for him although i suspect he'll do it more for cheers and adulation than money , Masters boxing is becoming very popular in Aust and theres guys a lot older than him having there first and second fights , personaly i don't agree with it but who am i to judge ,

Suppose has long has he's sensible about the quality of opponent no harm done , , would i bother watching not a chance but many will,,, Really its about wether he wants to sell his legacy for his ego and a couple dollars , at the moment Ricky Hatton is adored by the british public and his losses were to greats , carry on with this stuff and the losses will go against him , and if he's up for sale, losses will shorely come , up to him i suppose ,

The danger is not the opponent it's that barely anybody might turn up to watch. For a seemingly fragile man like Ricky that could do him more harm than good.

[Nightmare Roy]

No one is gonna watch this.