RICKY HATTON has urged fans not to worry about his comeback fight against Marco Antonio Barrera.
The British boxing hero faces Mexican icon Barrera in an exhibition bout on November 12 in Manchester.
It will be his first time in the ring for ten years but Hatton put fans at ease who are worried about his health and safety.
He told Sky Sports: “My fighting days are behind me.
“There’s very little risk involved. I think that’s what fight fans worry about when fighters make comebacks.
“They’re worried about seeing their heroes get beat or hurt. They don’t want to see the champions of yesteryear getting bashed up.
“With an exhibition, there’s very little chance of that happening.
“You’ve got the big gloves, less rounds and there’s an understanding with two professionals. It’s a celebration.”
Hatton, 44, is one of the most celebrated fighters from UK shores and lost only three times in 48 fights.
Two of those were against all-time greats Floyd Mayweather, now 45, and Manny Pacquiao, 43.
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But the final fight in his career came two years after defeat to Pacquiao, losing to Vyacheslav Senchenko, 45, in 2012.
Now a decade later, he will return to the same Manchester arena where he became beloved by fans.
Hatton said: “My ringwalks are always very special. The ringwalk was the one thing that I miss from boxing.
“For any boxer when he comes out the changing room and does that walk to the ring, it’s the most nerve-wracking thing.
“When you retire, that’s the one thing you miss. That adrenalin rush, the roar from the crowd, that nervousness as you’re making your ringwalk.
“It’s the most nerve-wracking thing of any fighter’s preparation before the fight.
“But when it’s gone you miss it and I’m going to get the chance to feel it again so I can’t wait.”
