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Ricky Hatton, a former box’s world champion in the divisions of light-weight and welterweight, is dead. He was 46.
Hatton was found dead in his Manchester home, according to the Press Association. Police said they did not treat his death as suspicious.
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Ricky Hatton, left, of England, lands right to the face of Juan Urango from Colombia, in the fourth round of their IBF Jr. Welterweight title box match in Las Vegas on Saturday, January 20, 2007. (AP Photo/ Jae C. Hong, File)
“Officers were called by a public member to participate in Bowlacre Road, Hyde, TameSide, at 06.45 today, finding a 46-year-old man,” Greater Manchester police said in a statement. “There is no presumpto at the moment to be any suspicious circumstances.”
Police did not reveal the man’s identity but said they were working with his family to release a statement. However, several campaigns and warriors from the martial arts world began to release tribute to Hatton on social media.
“Today, not only did we lose one of Britain’s greatest boxers, but a friend, a mentor, a warrior, Ricky Hatton,” Boxer Amir Khan wrote on X. “As Warriors, we tell ourselves that we are strong – we train, we are sweating, we take hits we need to talk.
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Boxer Ricky Hatton stands by the field before Manchester City’s English Premier League football match against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, Sunday 22 September 2013. (AP Photo/Jon Super, File)
“Ricky, thanks for everything. For your struggles, your moments of glory, your gravel. Thank you for pushing us, showing us what is possible. For everyone who reads this: If you hurt or fight, you are not alone. Talk. Talk. Well out. Because we need more light, more compassion, more understanding.”
Tyson Fury posted a photo of herself and Hatton together on Instagram.
“Rip to legend Ricky Hatton he has to tear,” Fury wrote in the caption. “There will only be 1 Ricky Hatton. Can’t believe it so young.”
Hatton planned for a comeback match in Dubai in December.
He won several world titles during his career and was named Fighter of the Year in 2005 by Ring Magazine, the Boxing Writers Association of America and ESPN. He was 45-3 in his career with 32 knockouts.
Hatton’s last professional match took place in Manchester against Vyacheslav Senchenko in November 2012. He lost via knockout.
Frank Warren, Hatton’s former manager, remembered the boxer as an “excellent talented fighter who inspired a generation of young boxers and fans in a way that very few had done before.”
Floyd Mayweather Jr., Left, beats Ricky Hatton from the UK, during their WBC Welterweight Boxing title match at MGM Grand Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas, Saturday 8 December 2007. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
“From debuting (i) Widnes in 1997 and then continuing to win one of the most historic matches in British boxing history against Kostya Tszyu in Manchester, Ricky will rightly go down as one of the modern greatnesses of this sport,” he added.
“My deepest compassion goes out to his family at this horrible time.”
