According to The Ring magazine, Special K, 39, will be getting back in the ring on February 13, 2026 to pay tribute to the late Hitman, who died last month aged 46.

The former welterweight champion will be facing Eisa Al Dah, 46, in Dubai – the opponent Hatton was preparing to fight in December.

The promoter of the fight has said that "the evening will feature tributes and honour the legendary Ricky 'The Hitman' Hatton and support the newly-formed Ricky Hatton Foundation".

The Ricky Hatton Foundation was established after his death – which a court has heard was a suicide earlier this month – to help "those facing their own fights with mental illness and ensuring that no one ever has to face those battles alone".

Kell had retired from boxing in May 2022 following his victory over Amir Khan, 38.

At the time of his retirement, Kell said he chose to hang the gloves up because his "heart was no longer in it" and that he had "nothing left to prove".

The ex-welterweight titleholder had also previously revealed he had struggled with his mental health after he threw in the towel.

In a post on X, Kell wrote: "It's no secret that I struggle with mental health and I'm finding retirement really hard.

"I'm actively seeking the help I need to get me on the right path. Again I apologise for the hurt I've caused."

Kell added retiring from boxing was "the hardest thing [he's] ever done".

Speaking with Standard Sport, he said: "I’ve been so institutionalised into boxing. When that came to a complete end, I didn’t know how to go about my day-to-day things. I felt like my life had ended. Nobody was phoning me, telling me to eat this or go to sleep at this time.

"Nobody teaches you how to deal with retirement. They teach you how to become world champion, how to avoid shots and win a fight. But nobody prepares you for dealing with life after boxing."