Hatton's father arrested after assault on son - reports

British boxer Ricky Hatton (C) watches the quarter-final match between Spain's Rafael Nadal and Britian's Andy Murray at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 26, 2010.

LONDON (Reuters) - Ricky Hatton's father was arrested on suspicion of assaulting his son the day before the British boxer announced his comeback, the BBC reported on Saturday.

Ray Hatton, 61, was given a police caution after the alleged incident outside Ricky Hatton's health and fitness gym in Hyde, Greater Manchester, on Thursday.

Hatton, 33, and his father traded punches following a heated argument, the Independent newspaper reported.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "Shortly before 11:45 BST on Thursday, police received reports that there had been a fight involving two men outside a health and fitness club on Market Street.

"A 33-year-old man was assaulted by a 61-year-old man, who was arrested on suspicion of common assault and subsequently given a police caution."

The statement said the 33-year-old man was not injured.

Hatton, the former welterweight and light-welterweight world champion, confirmed on Friday he would return to professional boxing with a fight against an unnamed opponent in Manchester in November.

He retired with a record of 45-2 (32KO) after a devastating two-round knockout by Manny Pacquiao in May 2009. He checked into a rehabilitation centre in London in 2010 after being the subject of allegations of cocaine abuse.

(Writing by Stephen Wood; Editing by Mark Meadows; mark.meadows@thomsonreuters.com; Reuters Messaging:; mark.meadows.reuters.com@reuters.net; +44 20 7542 7933; Twitter: @mark_meadows)