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 Higher Manchester house, in keeping with Britain’s Press Affiliation. Higher Manchester Police confirmed the loss of life just isn’t being handled as suspicious.
Tributes poured in because the boxing world mourned his loss.
Former champion Amir Khan wrote on Fb, “At this time we misplaced not solely one among Britain’s biggest boxers, however a pal, a mentor, a warrior, Ricky Hatton.”
Tyson Fury posted on Instagram, “RIP to the legend Ricky Hatton might 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 loss of life comes simply two months after he had introduced a shocking comeback combat 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, dealing with 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 via life. He really had an excellent combat, and we’re all blessed to have been a part of his great journey.”
Hatton’s everyman enchantment, mixed together with his all-action preventing type and candid struggles with weight between bouts, earned him an enormous following. Soccer star Wayne Rooney shared, “Devastated. A legend, a warrior, and an incredible individual.”
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 generally the toughest combat 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 1000’s of British followers following him to america for his greatest fights.
Former supervisor Frank Warren known as him “beautifully gifted” and somebody who “impressed a era of younger boxers and followers in a means only a few had performed 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 melancholy, alcohol points, and weight achieve was thought-about 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 each side applauding in tribute. Manchester Metropolis’s assertion learn: “Ricky was one among Metropolis’s most beloved and revered supporters, who will at all times be remembered for a glittering boxing profession that noticed him win world titles at welterweight and light-welterweight.”
Earlier than his loss of life, Hatton had discovered success as a coach, guiding Zhanat Zhakiyanov to a world bantamweight title in 2017.
