BoxRec

BROOK WHO'S BACK Kell Brook, 39, to make boxing return in Dubai in honour of tragic Ricky Hatton

Kell Brook has announced he is set to return to the boxing ring on February 13 in Dubai – in honour of the late Ricky Hatton.

Hatton was due to face Eisa Al Dah in a comeback fight in December – but the British great was found dead in his home last month aged 46.

Now, Brook will fight Al Dah at the 15,000-seat Dubai Media City with the event being dedicated to tragic Hatton.

Sheffield’s former welterweight world champion – who beat Hatton’s brother Matthew in 2012 – retired after his 2022 grudge match with Amir Khan.

Brook won the bitter bout in six rounds and walked away on top – before continuing to tease a return.

Brook – who welcomed newborn baby son Ezerra Ray with ex-world champ Ebanie Bridges in February – has been linked with fighting the likes of Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn.

A shock switch to the brutal world of bare-knuckle boxing to follow the likes of James DeGale and Paulie Malignaggi has also been rumoured for Brook.

But he will instead return to the ring in the Middle East against Al Dah – who is 8-3 and four years out of the ring.

Al Dah paid a touching tribute following the news of Hatton’s passing.

He posted on Instagram: “My deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, fans, his fighters, and to the boxing world as a whole.”

Kell Brook To Make Boxing Return In Tribute To Late Ricky Hatton

Kell Brook has announced he will make a return to boxing in a tribute to the late Ricky Hatton.

Hatton was due to make a comeback himself but tragically died last month at the age of 46.

'The Hitman' was supposed to fight Eisa Al Dah in Dubai on December 2 but now the UAE native will clash with former world champion Brook.

Brook vs. Al Dah will take place on February 13, 2026 at The Agenda in Dubai Media City.

'The Special One' hasn't fought since February 2022, when he stopped bitter rival Amir Khan in six rounds. Brook announced his retirement shortly after.

The event headlined by Brook and Al Dah will be dedicated to honouring the legacy of Hatton.

A statement from promoter Agenda Dubai read: "The UAE’s first professional boxer, Eisa Al Dah will face the UK’s former World Champion Kell Brook for the WBC World Title, The Union Belt.

"Featuring a full undercard of UAE Residents v Manchester UK fighters, plus celebrity guests.

"The evening will feature tributes and honour the legendary Ricky 'The Hitman' Hatton and support the newly formed Ricky Hatton Foundation.

"This is a night of boxing not to be missed brought to you by The Agenda, the home of boxing in the UAE."

Kell Brook to fight Eisa Al Dah in Ricky Hatton tribute

Kell Brook, the 39-year-old retired British boxer, will step in for his late compatriot Ricky Hatton on February 13.

The BBC reported that Brook will fight Eisa Al Dah, the opponent whom Hatton was supposed to face this December in “The Hitman’s” first professional prizefight in more than 13 years. Hatton passed away at age 46 in September.

The card, set for Dubai Media City in the United Arab Emirates, has been rebranded into a remembrance night for Hatton and is intended to support his foundation.

“This hits me hard because I felt a real connection and understanding of Ricky, I could relate deeply with his struggles with addiction and depression,” Brook posted on Instagram after Hatton’s death, citing him as an inspiration.

Brook, 40-3 (28 KOs), shied from no challenge during his career. His three losses came to Gennadiy Golovkin – Brook rose from 147lbs to challenge the feared middleweight champ in his home division – Errol Spence and Terence Crawford. Brook stayed close with Spence on the scorecards, his left eye swelling all the way, before being stopped in Round 11. Crawford finished Brook in Round 4 in a sequence beginning with what Stephen “Breadman” Edwards called one of the best punches ever thrown.

Brook’s career included wins over Shawn Porter, Ricky’s brother Matthew Hatton, and Amir Khan, who he fought in his last bout to date. That long-anticipated clash came in 2022, when both fighters were well past their best, but Khan more so. Brook stopped him in the sixth round and Khan has not fought since.

Al Dah is 46 years old and has not fought since July 2021, when the 6-6-1 Pedro Alejandro Delgado knocked him out in the first round of a scheduled four. Al Dah was born and lives in Dubai and has a professional record of 8-3 (4 KOs).

That's really good of Kell to do that. Let's hope the Ricky Hatton Foundation becomes a huge success.

Kell Brook dedicates his return to the late Ricky Hatton

Kell Brook is scheduled to return to the ring on Feb. 13 in Dubai for a fight against Eisa Al Dah after not having fought since a Feb. 2022 win over Amir Khan. In a conversation with Sky Sports he says he’s coming back to the ring in order to bring awareness to mental health, particularly after the recent passing of Ricky Hatton. Brook say this upcoming outing will be dedicated to him.

“I’ve come out of retirement for Ricky, mental health and addiction. I want people to be alright with asking for help when they need it. A horrible thing happened with Ricky Hatton and I just want to let people know, you’re a phone call away from help. It’s a tribute to Ricky Hatton, this.”

Al Dah was the opponent Hatton was originally supposed to face in what was intended to be his own return to the ring next month, and he’ll now square off against Brook on this new date.

Brook, 39, would also hint that this return could be more than just a one off fight for him, as he’s feeling good being in training again, but wants to get through this outing before he makes any more plans on his future between the ropes.

big lennox wrote: ↑21 Oct 2025, 09:57 That's really good of Kell to do that. Let's hope the Ricky Hatton Foundation becomes a huge success.

I couldn’t find an answer skimming the articles but is Kell donating his purse to the foundation?

It’s so tragic that Ricky is gone…. Still so shocking

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑05 Nov 2025, 10:53

big lennox wrote: ↑21 Oct 2025, 09:57 That's really good of Kell to do that. Let's hope the Ricky Hatton Foundation becomes a huge success.

I couldn’t find an answer skimming the articles but is Kell donating his purse to the foundation?

It’s so tragic that Ricky is gone…. Still so shocking

It's not been mentioned

Anyone gonna go out and support this?

Is this an exhibition or real?

catalin714 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 06:55 Is this an exhibition or real?

I think it's real..

Easy win for Brook. Hope some of the money goes to the Foundation. No issue with Brook getting paid , he’s the one getting punched but hope the Foundation also gets some and I’m sure it will.

Brook looking trim tonight as his wife loses comeback, then watches as she swears repeatedly while holding their kid - classy! dont think the interviewer even knew who he was.

"In tribute too"

I hate to be a cynic, but unless he iis donating the entire purse to charity than this is less doing a tribute to Hatton and more Kell Brook seeing a fast and easy way to feather his own nest a bit more.

Fight Week!!

irrelevant and dumpy fight

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑09 Feb 2026, 14:16 Fight Week!!

It got postponed.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑09 Feb 2026, 14:44

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑09 Feb 2026, 14:16 Fight Week!!

It got postponed.

Hahahahaha brilliant

mickey1975 wrote: ↑09 Feb 2026, 14:44

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑09 Feb 2026, 14:16 Fight Week!!

It got postponed.

Ah. Did it?

Campbell Hatton is set to come out of retirement and fight again following the tragic passing of his father, Ricky Hatton.

The 25-year-old, who quit boxing last year, will now return on the show headlined by Kell Brook vs Eisa Al Dah on April 11th in Dubai.

Ricky's nephew Jack Hatton and niece Lola Hatton will also compete as part of the event, which is being staged as a tribute to Ricky because he was originally set to fight Al Dah prior to his death.

people in dubai are going to want to pay to watch hatton amateur fights and a 40 year old kell brook vs a nobody? seems like a guaranteed money loser

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑10 Feb 2026, 17:13 people in dubai are going to want to pay to watch hatton amateur fights and a 40 year old kell brook vs a nobody? seems like a guaranteed money loser

They’re all fuming at the minute because Jack lost in the national semi final, blaming the ref. He’s been on the right side of loads of splits for ages.

already sounds entitled , thats a shame

What do donations to the Ricky Hatton foundation go toward?

If it's "Suicide prevention" I'd say it's going towards basically nothing. Preventing suicide sounds like a good cause but what exactly can any charity do to stop suicide?

Constantly talking about his mental health didnt help poor Ricky.

I can't help thinking he would have helped himself more by cutting the booze out. One leads to another leads to another etc.

It does seem like the young uns today are mainly turning their backs on booze culture, which can only be good for health and wellbeing.