Ricky Hatton vows to placed on a present towards ‘hero’ Marco Antoinio Barrera in Manchester exhibition | Boxing Information

Ricky Hatton desires to supply his followers fireworks when returns to the ring to face Mexican icon Marco Antonio Barrera within the pair’s exhibition bout at Manchester Enviornment this Saturday. 

The British boxing legend is placing the gloves on for what could possibly be the ultimate time in an occasion that he has credited for serving to his psychological well being by setting out a goal.

It awaits as a celebration of two glittering careers for which the pair share mutual admiration, Hatton making no secret of his respect for his former multi-weight world champion opponent.

“It is nice to see Marco, I spoke to him a few days in the past, he was in good spirits,” Hatton advised Sky Sports activities. “The build-up could not really feel any higher, I could not really feel any sharper than I really feel there now, good and sharp and explosive.

“Now we’re a few days away it is about placing the ending touches to it. All that issues is the efficiency and the present for the followers, which has at all times been mine and Marco’s precedence. It will likely be thrilling.

“We have had so many nice instances through the years, we have had the children. Campbell’s turn out to be skilled, Marco Jr there taking care of his dad and doing the interpretation, pretty child. I am a granddad now!

“We have had so many good instances by way of our combating careers and me going to cheer Marco on, him coming to cheer me on, me strolling him to the ring, him strolling me to the ring.

“I by no means thought this may be potential as a result of he’s a real, real hero of mine. In the event you’re a boxing fan and he is not a hero of yours then you aren’t a boxing fan.

“Me and Marco mentioned ‘not one particular person walks away Saturday yawning, no probability’, I mentioned I would relatively not do it. He mentioned ‘I do know precisely what you imply Ricky’ and that is the fantastic thing about it.

“It will likely be thrilling, however there is a bit {of professional} satisfaction as a result of we’re each former champions, I am not having him come and outbox me, I’ve little question he’ll be saying the identical so it should be good.”

Hatton underlined the significance of neither man getting damage in entrance of followers which have idolised them over years passed by, and welcomed the chance for each to showcase their expertise.

Barrera returns to Manchester Enviornment for the primary time since dropping to Amir Khan late in his profession in March 2009, earlier than which he was world champion at featherweight, tremendous featherweight and tremendous bantamweight.

“It would not want me to say what a legend he was. His type is so versatile, he went to battle with Erik Morales in one of many nice fights of all time,” mentioned Hatton.

“Then he confirmed what nice boxing potential he is bought when he outboxed Naseem Hamed. He is a terrific boxer, a terrific fighter, he is bought a lot of coronary heart and if I will come again to an exhibition it is bought to be towards any person like Marco Antonio Barrera as a result of I maintain him in such excessive regard.

“To get within the form I’ve bought in is to do with who I am stepping within the ring with.”

Barrera joked that he was nervous coming into the struggle having been greeted by a bodily “totally different” Hatton upon his arrival within the UK in comparison with the final time the 2 met, such has been the latter’s important weight reduction.

“That was Ricky Fatton!” joked The Hitman.