RICKY HATTON has urged Mike Tyson to cancel plans for a comeback at the age of 53 and says it would be a tragedy if the heavyweight legend picked up a “serious injury”.
Tyson announced shock plans to make a ring return to compete in exhibition bouts for charity.
Mike Tyson announced plans to fight in charity bouts
Ricky Hatton urged Tyson to cancel plans for a comeback aged 53
He has since had offers to rematch Brit Danny Williams, fight rugby legend Sonny Bill Williams and was even called out by Tyson Fury’s dad John – who said he would be willing to “die” in the ring.
But Manchester hero Hatton – who made an unsuccessful comeback in 2012 by losing to Vyacheslav Senchenko after three years out – wants the reformed Baddest Man on The Planet to stay retired.
Hatton, who has lost a stone and a half training in lockdown, told iFL TV: “Everyone said ‘Are you fighting Mike Tyson?’ One thing I won’t be doing is fighting John Fury. John’s going for it, isn’t he?
“Mike’s in a good place now. When he retired, he wasn’t in a good place. He was on medication.
“Now he’s doing positive things, and he’s doing motivational speaking. He’s talking well and looking well. It’s one thing that you’re talking well and looking well, but you’re 53.
“We all make comebacks because we have so much to improve. That’s why I came back because I felt like I had to redeem myself.
“But Mike has mentally got himself on track, not just physically on track. He’s looking better, talking better, and feeling better.
“Now his body is right, and his head is right, why is he thinking comeback? I don’t get it. It would be a tragedy for him after he went through all those bad times, and got back on the straight and narrow to do himself some serious injury.
“But with Mike making a comeback, I really hope he doesn’t. I think I’m not alone saying that.”
Tyson has also been using the time in lockdown to dramatically transform his body, having stunned fans by announcing plans to lace up the gloves again.
The American has been training for the last three weeks under MMA mastermind Rafael Cordeiro, hitting pads, bags and working on his conditioning.
But so far it is understood if he is to return it will not be to box as a professional.
Tyson Fury’s dad John called out Iron Mike
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk