British Boxing legend Ricky Hatton dies at 46

Former world boxing champion Ricky Hatton has died at the age of 46, just two months after announcing plans for a comeback fight following a 13-year break from professional boxing.

Hatton was found dead at his home in Hyde, northwest England, on Sunday morning. Greater Manchester Police confirmed they were not treating his death as suspicious. “Officers were called by a member of the public to attend Bowlacre Road, Hyde, Tameside, at 6:45 am (0545 GMT) today (Sunday) where they found the body of a 46-year-old man,” a police spokesperson said. “There are not currently believed to be any suspicious circumstances.”

Nicknamed “The Hitman,” Hatton was widely regarded as one of Britain’s greatest and most popular fighters. He won multiple world titles at light-welterweight and one at welterweight, becoming a fan favourite for his aggressive style and humble personality. Making his professional debut in 1997, Hatton went on to win 45 of his 48 fights, including notable victories over Kostya Tszyu and Jose Luis Castillo. He suffered high-profile defeats to legends Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

Hatton briefly came out of retirement in 2012 but lost to Vyacheslav Senchenko before transitioning to training, guiding Kazakhstan’s Zhanat Zhakiyanov to a bantamweight world title in 2017. He also fought an exhibition bout against Marco Antonio Barrera in 2022 and announced in July that he would return to the ring to face Eisa Al Dah in Dubai this December.

The former champion had spoken openly about his struggles with mental health after retiring, earning respect for his honesty. Tributes have poured in from across the boxing world and beyond. Promoter Frank Warren hailed Hatton as “a superbly talented fighter who inspired a generation,” while heavyweight champion Tyson Fury called him “a legend” and expressed disbelief at his passing. Former champion Amir Khan described him as “a mentor, warrior and one of Britain’s greatest boxers,” using the moment to highlight the importance of mental health awareness.

Manchester City, the club Hatton passionately supported, said they were “devastated” by his death and would hold a minute’s appreciation ahead of Sunday’s derby against Manchester United. Organisers of the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool also announced plans to honour him.

Hatton’s legacy as one of Britain’s most beloved boxers remains firmly intact, with fans remembering him not only for his titles but also for his fighting spirit and down-to-earth nature.