Boxing legend, Ricky Hatton, passes away

The boxing world is in mourning following the death of former world champion Ricky Hatton, fondly known as “The Hitman.”

Hatton, regarded as one of Britain’s most cherished fighters, was found dead at his Manchester home on Sunday morning.

Police authorities confirmed that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his passing.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “Officers were called by a member of the public to attend Bowlacre Road, Hyde, Tameside, at 6:45am today where they found the body of a 46-year-old man. There are not currently believed to be any suspicious circumstances.”

Hatton carved his name into boxing history with an esteemed 15-year career, winning 45 of his 48 professional fights. He became a world champion at both light-welterweight and welterweight, securing famous victories over Kostya Tszyu and Jose Luis Castillo.

Despite his brilliance in the ring, he is also remembered for his high-profile defeats to boxing legends Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. His final professional fight came in 2012, when he was stopped by Vyacheslav Senchenko in Manchester.

More recently, Hatton took part in an exhibition bout against Marco Antonio Barrera in 2022, an event that highlighted his enduring popularity with boxing fans. In July this year, he announced plans to return to the ring for a middleweight contest against Eisa Al Dah in Dubai, scheduled for December 2, though uncertainty surrounded the fight’s sanctioning.

Beyond boxing, Hatton was open about his personal struggles, speaking candidly about his battles with depression and mental health. His honesty on the subject earned him admiration far beyond the boxing community.

Tributes are already pouring in for Hatton, whose charisma, grit, and never-say-die spirit made him a hero to millions of fans in Britain and around the world.