Ricky Hatton's comeback opponent speaks out after boxer's death aged 46

Ricky Hatton's opponent for his comeback fight has revealed the pair were due to meet this week.

Hatton, who was found dead in his home on Sunday aged just 46, had been planning a comeback following his retirement from the ring in 2012. The former world champion was due to fight Eisa Al Dah in Dubai on December 2 having decided to make a return earlier this year.

Hatton's last professional fight was his defeat by Vyacheslav Senchenko which was his first fight since his brutal KO loss by Manny Pacquiao three years earlier. Hatton did take part in an exhibition bout with Marco Antonio Barrera in 2022 but his clash with Al Dah was due to be a professional bout.

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And his opponent told The National: "In just a couple of hours, I was [going to see] him here in Dubai. We booked the hotel. We booked the [plane] ticket. Everything had been arranged. From my side, I was checking everything, and I was so excited to see him over here and visit us here in Dubai.

"And he was also excited. But suddenly, I get this news from his managers. My heart is broken. Since knowing I will fight him, I became very close to him, seeing his news, following him on Instagram. I follow his life, how he trained, everything. I cannot believe it. I wish somebody told me this is wrong.

"I've been through many things in my life in the boxing or business but this is something that I cannot believe."

Hatton had been due to announce the fight in Dubai in July but was unable to fly after he injured his eye. Of his comeback, he said: "I’m absolutely delighted to say I’m stepping in the ring to give it another go. It’s been well-documented I’ve had my struggles but I’m in a really good place now, loving life, trying to bring the next champions through. But the opportunity has come for me to get in the ring and do it again."

Hatton had been training for his ring return and posted a video of himself in the gym shortly before his death. His body was found on Sunday morning after the alarm was raised when he failed to attend a boxing show on Sunday night. Tributes poured in from the great and the good of boxing, including from Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Manny Pacquiao.