‘The Hitman’ Ricky Hatton is beloved by boxing fans all over the world, as the former world champion had an excellent career.
Considered by Teddy Atlas to be one of the greatest British fighters of all time, Hatton is a former super lightweight world title holder. With an exciting style, Hatton retired from the sport with a professional record of 45-3.
His last professional bout came in 2012, as he suffered a loss to Vyacheslav Senchenko. However, he would step into the ring on another occasion 10 years later.
Ricky Hatton competed in an exhibition bout with Marco Antonio Barrera in 2022
Just under 10 years after hanging up his gloves in a final professional fight, Hatton returned to the ring for an exhibition boxing fight.
Although fighters like Evander Holyfield have fought former MMA champions, and others have faced internet stars, Hatton did not go down either route for his return. Instead, Hatton faced a former world champion.
Hatton faced former super featherweight world champion Marco Antonio Barrera in his exhibition bout, who retired from professional boxing in 2011.
The Englishman was 44 years old when he stepped into the ring, while Barerra, one of the greatest Mexican boxers of all time, was four years his senior. The two competed in a bout that was eight rounds long, at a two-minute duration.
Their exhibition bout took place in the Manchester Arena, as Hatton performed in front of a home crowd. However, there was no winner of the bout as it was not officially scored.
Despite this, both fighters seemingly gave it their all as fans were impressed by the two former champions’ showing.
Ricky Hatton was only defeated in final five fights of his career
Despite going out of professional boxing on a loss, Hatton was only ever beaten by some of the finest boxers to ever compete.
Suffering his first loss to Floyd Mayweather, it was the first time Hatton had tasted defeat in his 10 years as a professional to that point. Hatton later named Mayweather as the best fighter he had ever faced.
His second loss came with a stunning knockout defeat to Manny Pacquiao, in what would turn out to be his penultimate fight.
As for his final loss to Senchenko, he was stopped in the ninth round. The Ukrainian was a former welterweight champion at the time he fought Hatton.