Manchester boxing legend Ricky Hatton has confirmed his interest in making a boxing comeback this year.
Hatton, 43, has not fought since 2012, which even then he had come back from his original 2009 retirement after being knocked out by Manny Pacquiao.
The Manchester fighter has admitted that the his motivation to comeback was enhanced after seeing former fighters do the same in exhibition bouts over the last 18 months.
Fighters returning to the ring has become somewhat of a trend over the past few years, with Mike Tyson fighting Roy Jones Jr in 2020.
And reports suggested that Hatton is in 'advanced talks' to fight the legendary Mexican boxer Barrera.
Barrera himself retired 2011 - with his final loss of his career coming two years earlier in Manchester when he was defeated by Amir Khan.
And Hatton has confirmed that Barrera is one name who he's looking to fight, whilst also naming two other potential opponents.
"I think it very much could happen," he told Sky Sports.
"My best days are very much behind me but then these exhibitions started happening. I saw the first one between Roy Jones and Mike Tyson and I thought 'Well, yeah'.
"People have asked me if I would be interested in doing something like that and I have always said 'Yes, if the right person comes along.'"
Last week, it had been reported by numerous outlets that Hatton and Barrera were close to agreeing an exhibition bout - which Hatton has now confirmed.
He said: “From my point of view, Marco Antonio Barrera has been linked with me. Who wouldn’t want to share a ring with him? He’s an idol, he’s a boxing icon.
“Marco has been a friend of mine for years. To share a ring with Marco Antonio Barrera or Miguel Cotto or Juan Manuel Marquez, I would love the chance of doing that.
“I haven’t heard anything yet but if something is forthcoming, I would definitely look at it.”
