FORMER IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook will return to the ring in February 2026 — four years after his last fight.
The 39-year-old will face the ‘Arabian Warrior’ Al Dah on February 13 in Dubai, a bout which will serve as his personal tribute to the late Ricky Hatton.
Hatton had originally been scheduled to fight Dah but tragically passed away at his home on September 14. The February show, held at the 15,000-capacity Dubai Media City, will now be a night dedicated to honouring Hatton’s life and legacy. Tributes are planned throughout the event, with all proceeds going to the newly formed Ricky Hatton Foundation — a charity set up to support those struggling with mental health issues.
Two days after Hatton’s death, Brook spoke of his “connection and understanding of Ricky” in an Instagram post.
“I could relate deeply with his struggles with addiction and depression,” Brook said. “Both of us were just kids from a council estate who found boxing and were fortunate enough to be successful in it. We’ve lost not only a legend in boxing but also a legend in life who would do anything for anyone.”
Brook’s own career featured a 2012 win over Ricky’s younger brother Matthew in their ‘War of the Roses’ clash. Two years later, he travelled to America and dethroned Shawn Porter to claim the IBF welterweight title.
Though he never quite recaptured that early world-title-winning form, Brook shared the ring with elite names such as Errol Spence Jr, Gennadiy Golovkin and Terence Crawford. In February 2022, he scored arguably the most satisfying victory of his career when he stopped long-time rival Amir Khan in Manchester.
Brook officially retired three months later but has since hinted at a comeback — one that, until now, had never materialised.
