Former boxing world champion Ricky Hatton, one of many sport’s most beloved figures, has died on the age of 46.
Hatton was found deceased at his Larger Manchester house, in keeping with Britain’s Press Affiliation. Larger Manchester Police confirmed the dying will not be being handled as suspicious.
Tributes poured in because the boxing world mourned his loss.
Former champion Amir Khan wrote on Fb, “Immediately we misplaced not solely considered one of Britain’s biggest boxers, however a buddy, a mentor, a warrior, Ricky Hatton.”
Tyson Fury posted on Instagram, “RIP to the legend Ricky Hatton could he RIP. There’ll solely ever be 1 Ricky Hatton. Can’t consider this, so younger.” His brother Matthew shared, “I really like you Richard.”
Hatton’s dying comes simply two months after he had introduced a shocking comeback struggle scheduled for December in Dubai towards Eisa Al Dah, following a decade-long retirement since his 2012 loss to Vyacheslav Senchenko.
All through his illustrious profession, Hatton captured world titles at light-welterweight and welterweight, going through boxing giants together with Kostya Tszyu, Floyd Mayweather, and Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao paid tribute: “He was not solely an incredible fighter contained in the ring but additionally a courageous and type man in life. Ricky fought bravely, not simply within the ring, however in his journey by life. He really had an excellent struggle, and we’re all blessed to have been a part of his fantastic journey.”
Hatton’s everyman attraction, mixed together with his all-action combating fashion and candid struggles with weight between bouts, earned him a large following. Soccer star Wayne Rooney shared, “Devastated. A legend, a warrior, and an incredible particular person.”
Following retirement, Hatton spoke overtly about his psychological well being challenges.
“As fighters, we inform ourselves we’re robust — we practice, we sweat, we take hits, we stand up. However typically the toughest struggle occurs in silence, within the thoughts,” Khan famous.
Hatton’s career-defining second got here in 2005 when he defeated the formidable Kostya Tszyu for the IBF world tremendous light-weight title earlier than 22,000 followers in Manchester. This victory catapulted him to worldwide stardom, with hundreds of British followers following him to america for his largest fights.
Former supervisor Frank Warren known as him “fantastically proficient” and somebody who “impressed a technology of younger boxers and followers in a manner only a few had achieved earlier than”.
Although Hatton suffered his first profession defeat towards Mayweather in 2007 and later misplaced to Pacquiao in 2009, his 2012 comeback after battling despair, alcohol points, and weight acquire was thought of a private triumph regardless of ending in defeat.
A lifelong Manchester Metropolis supporter, Hatton was honoured with a minute’s appreciation earlier than Sunday’s derby towards Manchester United, with followers from either side applauding in tribute. Manchester Metropolis’s assertion learn: “Ricky was considered one of Metropolis’s most beloved and revered supporters, who will all the time be remembered for a glittering boxing profession that noticed him win world titles at welterweight and light-welterweight.”
Earlier than his dying, Hatton had discovered success as a coach, guiding Zhanat Zhakiyanov to a world bantamweight title in 2017.
