The comeback fight of Kell Brook in tribute to Ricky Hatton has been postponed and moved to the UK due to ongoing conflict in Dubai.
Former IBF welterweight world champion Kell Brook (40-3, 28ko’s) was set for a first fight February 2022.
A special career in the sport saw the man from the ‘Steel City’ face the likes of Terence Crawford, Errol Spence Jr, Shawn Porter and Gennadiy Golovkin.
Brook also had the opportunity to fight at Bramall Lane, home of his beloved Sheffield United, and was a large part of Matchroom Boxing’s and Sky Sports dominance in the sport during the 2010s.
Following his retirement, Kell Brook had a baby with partner and former IBF world champion Ebanie Bridges and showed little interest in a return to boxing as he looked toward fatherhood.
However, last September, the boxing world stood still as the late great Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton passed away aged just 46.
After the tragic news of Ricky Hatton passing away, Kell Brook announced that he would make a spectacular return to the sport in a tribute for Hatton.
This fight was initially set to take place on February 13 against Eisa Al Dah in Dubai, and was then initially rescheduled for April 11.
Al Dah was due to box Ricky Hatton in an exhibition in December and Brook wants to compete in memory of the Manchester legend and raise money for the Hatton Foundation.
Now due to the occurring conflicts in the Middle East, promoters Destiny In The Desert have announced that the April 11 show originally scheduled in Dubai will be moved to Manchester, UK in late Summer 2026.
In the press release, Destiny In The Desert have stated:
“Bringing the event to Manchester allows the tribute to take place in front of the fans who supported Hatton throughout his career and is expected to significantly increase the scale of the evening”.
“Dubai remains an outstanding international host city, however, if the fighters cannot come to Dubai, then we’ll bring the fight to Manchester- to Ricky’s home”.
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