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 residence, in accordance with Britain’s Press Affiliation. Larger Manchester Police confirmed the dying 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 present we misplaced not solely one among Britain’s best 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 like you Richard.”
Hatton’s dying 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 ideal fighter contained in the ring but in addition a courageous and sort man in life. Ricky fought bravely, not simply within the ring, however in his journey by way of life. He actually had a superb combat, and we’re all blessed to have been a part of his fantastic journey.”
Hatton’s everyman enchantment, mixed along with his all-action preventing model and candid struggles with weight between bouts, earned him an enormous following. Soccer star Wayne Rooney shared, “Devastated. A legend, a warrior, and an ideal individual.”
Following retirement, Hatton spoke brazenly 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 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 hundreds of British followers following him to the US for his greatest fights.
Former supervisor Frank Warren known as him “fantastically proficient” and somebody who “impressed a era of younger boxers and followers in a method 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 one among Metropolis’s most liked 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 dying, Hatton had discovered success as a coach, guiding Zhanat Zhakiyanov to a world bantamweight title in 2017.
