Boxing: Board set to approve Ricky Hatton comeback

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Ricky Hatton will be granted a new boxing licence providing he successfully completes all parts of a medical, the British Boxing Board of Control confirmed today.

The former two-weight world champion, who turns 34 next month, retired three years ago but is set to relaunch his career at a press conference in Manchester tomorrow.

Hatton, who has been crowned both light-welterweight and welterweight champion, attended a BBBoC meeting yesterday after shedding almost three stones in training this year.

BBBoC General Secretary Robert Smith told Press Association Sport: "He [Hatton] came before the board yesterday.

"I'm not a doctor but once we get the medicals in our doctors will look at them. If they are fine they will be signed off. That's all we're waiting for.

"He's been granted it [the licence] pending his medical - so subject to the completion of all his medicals.

"We've got some parts of it but there are a few parts to a medical. We have received some of it but we are just waiting for the rest of it and when we get the rest of it, I presume at the beginning of next week, we'll put it all together and our doctors will consider it."

Hatton was the subject of allegations of cocaine abuse two years ago but Smith says the Manchester-based boxer has cleaned up his act.

"He was very frank," Smith said. "He admitted things he had done wrong and was looking to put it behind him.

"He looked very well and spoke very well and is entitled to another opportunity, pending his medicals."

Hatton's last bout was a brutal second-round knockout by Manny Pacquiao in May 2009 and he has since established his own promotions company which ran into problems in May when he lost his television deal with Sky.

For his comeback fight, it is likely the undercard would feature a majority of Hatton Promotions boxers, including Martin Murray, Anthony Crolla, Rendall Munroe and Scott Quigg.

PA