Hatton, one of the country’s most celebrated and talented fighters, retired from the ring in 2012 having won multiple world titles at light-welterweight and welterweight during his storied career.
Returning for one last dance at the Manchester Arena, the venue for his first title triumph over Kostya Tszyu on a glorious night in 2005, Hatton boxed eight rounds against three-weight world champion Barrera who himself retired in 2011.
While fought under exhibition rules with no winner declared, both men provided impressive accounts of themselves in a competitive and at times feisty encounter in front of a rocking home crowd.
Hatton suffered a devastating knockout defeat in his final professional fight against Vyacheslav Senchenko 10 years ago in the same arena but was able to go out on his own terms after an impressive showing from the British boxing legend.
‘I wondered how it was going to go, we’re proud men and there’s such a big crowd here,’ Hatton said after the fight.
‘It was good, it was entertaining and everything we wanted. I’ve done loads of good things in boxing, this is up there with one of the best.’
The 44-year-old, now a trainer working with the sport’s emerging stars from his gym in Hyde, underwent an incredible body transformation as he prepared for his swansong, dropping four stone as he whipped himself into shape to deliver one final show for his fans.
‘This exhibition is good for my wellbeing and I hope it can be for anyone watching on too,’ Hatton wrote in his column for Metro.co.uk when the fight was announced earlier this year.
‘I would like people to think: ‘A couple of years ago he was on death’s door wanting to kill himself – look at him now’. I will be in good shape at 43 having a move around with another legend.’
Hatton’s exhibition followed another stunning win for Natasha Jonas, who won a third world title in nine months win a unanimous decision win over Marie-Eve Dicaire.
The Liverpudlian, already WBO and WBC light-middleweight champion, added the IBF strap to her collection, capping an outstanding 2022.
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