Ricky Hatton denies comeback fight vs Antonio Barrera is ‘OFF’ after headliner Hughie Fury falls ill

Ricky Hatton has denied reports suggesting his comeback fight against Marco Antonio Barrera has been called off.

The boxing legend, 43, is due to face Marco Antonio Barrera in an eight-round exhibition fight at the AO Arena Manchester on July 2, but reports claim the bout will now be rescheduled.

According to the Sun, Hatton’s fight at the beginning of next month has been postponed after Sky Sports confirmed that headliner Hughie Fury – cousin of Tyson Fury – fell ill and is unable to compete in his WBA heavyweight world title eliminator with Michael Hunter.

Ricky Hatton’s (centre) comeback fight on July 2 has reportedly been called off by Sky Sports

The Hitman was due to make a sensational return to the ring after 10 years out to face Marco Antonio Barrera in an exhibition fight (right) in Manchester

Hatton, who hung up his gloves in 2012 after being knocked out by Vyacheslav Senchenko, has shed a staggering two stone in seven weeks for the fight, cutting out alcoholic ‘treats’ and sticking to a ‘sensible’ diet for his long-awaited return.

But now the Sun are reporting that Hatton will be made to wait to make his return following the setback. 

The report goes on to claim that the exhibition fight, which is due to take place at the same arena on the same night but under a different promotion to Fury’s fight, has been called off as result of the postponement. 

However, Hatton has since taken to Twitter to deny that his return to the ring has been pushed back.

‘Gutted to hear that @hughiefury is injured and wish him a speedy recovery,’ he wrote. ‘Talks ongoing but not decided yet about whether to move my @SkySports bout on July 2 as well, as it was on the same bill. I will let my fans know the outcome here first.

Fury and Hunter’s transatlantic clash will be re-scheduled for a later date, with the AO Arena Manchester still set to host it. 

Sky Sports tweeted on Wednesday: ‘The heavyweight contender clash between Hughie Fury and Michael Hunter has been postponed from its originally-scheduled 2nd July date due to illness. 

‘Fury had been attempting to train through the illness but his father and trainer Peter Fury has made the decision to suspend the camp to allow his son time to fully recover.’

It comes after Sky Sports called off Hughie Fury’s (pictured) fight with Michael Hunter after the Brit fell ill

Hughie – cousin of Tyson Fury – was due to face Michael Hunter in a WBA heavyweight title eliminator on a different card but in the same venue on the same night as Hatton’s return

The Hitman previously said he would take part in the charity eight-round bout to give himself a ‘reason to get out of bed every single day’. 

Hatton started to gain weight following his retirement and admitted to going for ‘pints seven days a week’ before returning to training for the fight next month. 

Hatton – who was once known as ‘Ricky Fatton’ for his weight fluctuation – shocked fans when he uploaded a photo outlining his current physique. 

Hatton shared a comparison picture that showed himself at his heaviest next to a photo of himself following his cut. 

He posted the image with the accompanying caption: ‘Never thought I’d get here again. Well I have. THE BAD DAYS DON’T LAST FOREVER ONLY YOU CAN CHANGE IT AND CHANGE IT YOU CAN. POSITIVE STUFF. EVERYDAY. YOU CAN DO IT. RICKY’. 

Hatton then revealed he cut alcohol and ate ‘small’ meals ‘often’ to lose 40lbs ahead of his return to the ring. 

Hatton, 43, shared a comparison picture on his Instagram to show off his weight loss 

Hatton shared evidence (above) of his remarkable weight loss on his Instagram account last month and Tyson Fury was quick to respond congratulating his friend 

Speaking to British Boxing TV, Hatton said: ‘I like pints of beer, it has been well known, but you can’t do that. I think that is the main thing with the weight.

‘If you go out and have pints seven days a week you won’t be walking around with a six pack. I think it is just sensible, eating the right things small and often and regular workouts. 

‘Some days I have thought “can I have a rest day?” and then I have thought I will take my foot down on the pace and go for a run to keep a sweat on.

‘I do two workouts a day so my metabolism is always racing. Cut it down on treats, I have 12 cups of tea a day normally but it has to just be a one-off. 

‘I think the best thing is the willpower, and a nutritionist is only good as the lad that advises him and I think it is all down to your own personal discipline.’ 

Hatton also confirmed that his desire to return to the ring was sparked as a result of Mike Tyson’s exhibition fight against Jones Jr in November 2020. 

At the time of his official retirement, Hatton said: ‘A fighter knows when it’s not there, and it’s not there. I’ve had too many fights and burnt the candles at both ends

Hatton shocked boxing fans by revealing a picture of an overweight Tyson Fury back in 2017

‘I’ve lost four and half stone for this and my sparring was great but I’m not going to put myself through that torture again.

‘I got the answers. I was crying in the ring and no doubt I’ll be crying tonight but I’m happy. I had to go in there and find out and I did.

‘I’ve no complaints. It’s been three and a half years and you all know the story. I needed to put a few demons to rest and I said before the fight I felt I’d already won and that hasn’t changed.’