RICKY HATTON will make a dramatic ring return next month – but instead of throwing leather he’ll be barking the orders.

‘The Hitman’ took out a trainers licence last month and the first fighter to team up with him is Blackpool welterweight hopeful Adam Little.

Hatton will be in Little’s corner for the first time when his protégé boxes at Oldham Sports Centre on Saturday November 12 against a selected opponent.

Former two-weight world champion Hatton said: “This is the biggest buzz I have had since my fighting days.

“When I was going through my depression I would nip off to the pub, but I don’t want to now.

“I am looking forward to work every day and every evening I am sat up thinking what new things we can do in training.”

Little, 20, has won his first three professional contests and Hatton added: “I boxed to be the best in the world and nothing has changed now I’ve become a trainer.

“My standards are still as high as they were as a fighter, and I hope to try and be the best trainer in the world.

“Once word gets out that I am training it won’t be long before more kids ask me to work with them.

“Adam is really talented and will get to the stage where he has several title belts wrapped around his waist.

“I’ve learnt a lot from very good coaches over the years like Brian Hughes, Billy Graham, Floyd Mayweather Sr and Bob Shannon.

“Working with so many great coaches I’ve picked the bones out of what I agree with and added my own little spin.

“I think I have come up with a great system and coupled with my enthusiasm believe I can be a success.”

Little was previously trained by Joe Pennington who encouraged the boxer to team up with Hatton at his state of the art Hyde gymnasium.

Hatton added: “I spoke to Joe who is a good friend of mine and he is happy with Adam joining me.

“I thank Joe for giving me a head start with Adam. Joe has done a wonderful job and hopefully I can just add to what he has already taught him.

“Adam is really talented, dead keen, comes up from Blackpool every afternoon and we have hit it off straight away.”

Manchester’s Commonwealth welterweight champion Denton Vassell headline the Oldham Sports Centre card

The bill will also include former European super-featherweight champion Stephen Foster Jr,  unbeaten heavyweight Richard Towers, Tommy Stubbs, Kieran Farrell, Dezzie Higginson, Tom Shaw, Adam Little, Tom Scott and Ryan Davies

Boxing starts at 6.15pm and tickets priced at £35, £55 and £75 VIP ringside. You can buy by calling 01925 755 222, Ticketmaster 0844 847 2500, Ticketline 0844 888 9991 or online www.hattonboxing.com