Ricky Hatton’s return to the ring against Ukrainian Vyacheslav Senchenko will be broadcast exclusively live by pay-per-view sports channel Primetime.
Former WBA welterweight champion Senchenko is expected to be a tough opponent for ‘The Hitman’ as he makes his comeback after a three-year absence in front of a sell-out home crowd at the Manchester Arena on Saturday, November 24 (fight start: 10pm approx).
The PPV broadcaster will screen the headline fight as well as three undercard fights from 7.00pm on channel 498 on Sky, Virgin on-Demand, streamed live via the Primetime website, and in selected pubs/bars and cinemas across the UK.
A bumper undercard will also include the highly anticpated re-match between Scott Quigg and Rendall Munroe for the Interim WBA World Super-Bantamweight Title.
One of Britain’s most popular and engaging sportsmen, Hatton announced his retirement at the age of 32 in July 2011, with a record of 45 wins and only two defeats.
The former two-weight world champion last fought in 2009 when he suffered a crushing IBO light-welterweight world title defeat at the hands of Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.
His only other defeat in his 47-fight career came as a welterweight in a super-fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2007, also in Las Vegas.
But it was after his hard-fought victory over Kostya Tszyu in 2005 that ‘The Hitman’ began to make a mark on the world boxing scene and on the British sporting public.
Tsyzu was a huge favourite for the fight in Manchester, but Hatton overcame the odds with perhaps his finest performance to defeat the Australian by technical knockout.
In 2006, Hatton became a two-weight world champion after he defeated Puerto Rican Luis Collazo to take the WBA welterweight world title , and he followed that victory up by beating Juan Urango to reclaim his IBF light-welterweight title.
After becoming a world champion in two weight divisions, he garnered a massive international fan base that made him one of the biggest British fighters of all time.
His defeat against Manny Pacquiao in May 2009 not only knocked Hatton off his feet, but was a massive blow to his self-esteem and identity.
The fight against Senchenko on November 24 promises to lay some demons to rest and be marked as one of the sport’s greatest comebacks.
Despite some objections to his return from former associates such as Frank Warren, Hatton believes there is a lot in the boxing world that he still needs to achieve.
Among his ambitions is a fight against former IBF and WBA light welterweight champion, and fellow Briton, Amir Khan.
In addition, he targets another head-to-head against Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in order to avenge his knockout losses.
The ‘Hitman’ himself has stressed the personal importance of returning to the ring not just to have a comeback but to ‘redeem himself’ to his family and fans.
“I want British boxing to be proud of me again,” Hatton professed. “The only way to convince everyone I’m back is by flattening someone on November 24.”
In October, Primetime picked up the rights for the fight night which will be promoted by Hatton’s own promotional company.
Rumours grew that Sky and BoxNation were in the running for the event, but suggestions that a potential tie-in with Primetime and Channel 5, both of which are owned by media mogul Richard Desmond, for the rest of the Hatton Promotions stable could have sweetened the arrangement.
Terrestrial coverage for Hatton’s growing stable of fighters would see them propelled into an audience of millions after Sky’s decision to drop Hatton Promotions earlier this year.
Since its launch in 2009 Primetime has offered viewers a host of premium boxing events to British audiences.
Over the last three years the channel has showcased some of the world’s greatest fighters, from British champions Carl Froch and Amir Khan to international heavy hitters Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.
“To be offered this opportunity to broadcast Hatton vs. Senchenko is a huge deal for us.” said Director of programming Chris Ratcliff.
“This could be the start of a comeback tale of Hollywood proportions!
“We will support Ricky and his team all the way and wish all the best for him on 24th November.”
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Primetime’s exclusive live coverage of Ricky Hatton’s comeback fight will be presented by a highly-respected line-up of experienced boxing broadcasters.
Leading the coverage will be presenter Paul Dempsey, who was the front man for the majority of Sky’s boxing coverage during the 1990s.
Since leaving Sky in 2006, Dempsey has fronted the football and boxing coverage for Setanta Sports both in the UK and Ireland.
Paul will be reunited with a former Sky colleague in lead commentator Ian Darke.
As well as being an established football commentator, Ian Darke has called the action for the majority of boxing on Sky Sports since the mid-1990s.
Having provided the narrative for a number of historic British boxing occasions, Ian has also been in the booth for almost all of Ricky Hatton’s previous televised contests.
Sitting alongside Ian in the commentary box will be former WBC super-middleweight world champion Richie Woodhall.
Since retiring from the sport in 2002, Woodhall has carved out a career as both a commentator and a pundit for the BBC, Setanta and Sky.
Most recently Richie Woodhall was pivotal in the coverage of the Olympic boxing at London 2012, calling the action for the nation as Great Britain claimed 5 medals.
Returning to the Primetime team will be Woodhall’s Olympic commentary partner Ron McIntosh.
Fresh from filming the Ricky Hatton documentary ‘Road to Redemption’ (to be broadcast by Primetime on November 22), McIntosh will be providing the ringside interviews, as well as the latest from the dressing rooms as the evening progresses.
Completing the line-up are studio guests Paulie Malignaggi and Ryan Rhodes. Both will provide a unique insight into the fights and also Hatton’s career.
Malignaggi is the current WBA welterweight champion and was also a former victim of ‘The Hitman’ as he lost to Hatton when challenging for the Ring and IBO Light Welterweight belts in 2008.
He also won his current title by defeating Hatton’s opponent, Vyacheslav Senchenko, with a ninth round TKO victory, and to date Malignaggi is the only fighter to have beaten Senchenko.
In addition to Primetime’s live pay-per-view coverage on Sky and Virgin on-demand, and online via the Primetime website, fight fans can watch the fight live in selected pubs and bars, and in cinemas nationwide (details below).
Other ways to order include via TalkTalk Player on YouView and on mobile/tablet devices via the App Store.
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BBC Radio 5 live will have full live commentary from Manchester Arena of Ricky Hatton’s comeback fight.
Colin Murray presents live coverage from 10pm, with 5 live’s boxing correspondent Mike Costello providing the commentary.
5 live’s coverage will also be streamed via the BBC Sport website.
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Primetime is available on…
Channel 498 on Sky – Virgin-On-Demand – primetimelive.co.uk Price: £14.95 To order Hatton v Senchenko – call 0871 200 4444 or CLICK HERE For more information visit the Primetime website – CLICK HERE LIVE IN CINEMAS – CLICK HERE for full list of participating venues.