Ricky Hatton will take on Marco Antonio Barrera in an exhibition bout for charity on July 2.
The British boxing icon, now 43, will return to the ring for the first time since 2012 when he was stopped by Vyacheslav Senchenko following a three-year retirement. But the eight-round bout with Barrera will not be scored and no winner will be announced.
Barrera, 48, has not fought since he beat Jose Arias in 2011, two years after the Mexican was beaten by Amir Khan. Barrera held world titles in three weight divisions during the prime of his career and is revered for his epic trilogy with fellow countryman Erik Morales, as well as his two fights with Manny Pacquiao.
Hartton insists his return at the Manchester Arena is not the start of another comeback. "I am doing this for fans who struggled being locked up with Covid," he said. "I got a call and was asked if I would come back to do this for the fans who have been locked up for ages after Covid.
"Covid has been tough for me, for everyone. I want to inspire people who have had mental health problems, too. They can look at me and say ‘He struggled and now look at where he is’ so they can do it too."
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Hatton will follow in the footsteps of fellow ring legends Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr who returned to the sport in an exhibition bout in 2020. Mancunian Hatton has been in talks with Barrera for several months, and he said in February: "Since the Tyson vs Jones Jr fight came off, I’ve been saying if anyone approaches me, I would always look at it.
"At least everyone knows what it is, it is an exhibition and nothing more. A competitive move-around. If anyone wants to approach me then I would be up for it. People have asked me the question and I wouldn’t be adverse to it if one of my heroes comes forward."
Tickets for Hatton v Barrera are available from HattonBarrera.com
