Around 55,000 will see him at the home of his beloved Manchester City, and Hatton said: "It's always nice to be home. My last four fights have been in America and the support I have got over there has been absolutely phenomenal, 35,000 went over from England.

"I can honestly say I can't see that being bettered again by a British fighter. It makes me feel so proud.

"And not only that, it's also for the fans that have supported me from day one back in England, Great Britain and Manchester, who probably thought maybe they had lost the chance to see my fight again here live.

"They probably thought I was going to have all my remaining fights in the United States, so I think it's nice to come back.

"Not everybody can afford to fly to the US for every fight, so all my fans are going to get the chance to see Ricky Hatton, not just the ones who came to America."

As for the timing of the fight, Hatton told Sky Sports: "It is at a fan-friendly time, an English time.

"I put my contract with HBO and Golden Boy on hold so that I don't have to have it at two in the morning just to coincide with TV.

"I could have made a fair few extra quid for having it at two in the morning.

"David Haye against Enzo Maccarinelli was at 2am, Joe Calzaghe's fight was at 2am.

"Generally that is what you have to do but I chose to put it on hold because I don't like the idea of 55,000 people coming to watch me at 2am.

"It's my way of saying thank you really.

"Finance is important in your career, needless to say, but some things are worth more than money. It's all about achieving my goals now and doing right by the fans.

"It is now about the last few goals of my career, putting the final touches to it before I hang the gloves up.

"I want to be remembered as a fans' favourite, a people's champion.

"Every step of the way that's what I've done in my career, I don't think anyone can turn around and say 'Ricky Hatton ducked this guy'.

"I've fought some of the best pound for pound fighters in the world, won six world titles over two weight divisions, I'm coming home for a homecoming, having it at an English time.

"I'm all for the fans because I'm a fan myself."