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 dwelling, in accordance with Britain’s Press Affiliation. Larger Manchester Police confirmed the demise just isn’t being handled as suspicious.
Tributes poured in because the boxing world mourned his loss.
Former champion Amir Khan wrote on Fb, “Right now we misplaced not solely considered one of Britain’s best boxers, however a buddy, 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 imagine this, so younger.” His brother Matthew shared, “I really like you Richard.”
Hatton’s demise 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 ideal fighter contained in the ring but in addition a courageous and type man in life. Ricky fought bravely, not simply within the ring, however in his journey via life. He actually had struggle, and we’re all blessed to have been a part of his great journey.”
Hatton’s everyman attraction, mixed along with his all-action combating type and candid struggles with weight between bouts, earned him a large following. Soccer star Wayne Rooney shared, “Devastated. A legend, a warrior, and an ideal particular person.”
Following retirement, Hatton spoke overtly about his psychological well being challenges.
“As fighters, we inform ourselves we’re robust — we prepare, we sweat, we take hits, we rise up. However generally 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 1000’s of British followers following him to america for his greatest fights.
Former supervisor Frank Warren known as him “fantastically proficient” and somebody who “impressed a technology of younger boxers and followers in a approach only a few had executed 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 considered one of Metropolis’s most cherished 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 demise, Hatton had discovered success as a coach, guiding Zhanat Zhakiyanov to a world bantamweight title in 2017.
