The boxing world is in mourning following the sudden death of former world champion Ricky Hatton, who was found dead at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester, early Sunday morning. He was 46.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed that officers were called to Bowlacre Road at 6:45am, where Hatton’s body was discovered. Authorities stated that there are “not currently believed to be any suspicious circumstances” surrounding his death.
Hatton, affectionately known as “The Hitman,” was one of Britain’s most beloved fighters. Over a 15-year professional career, he amassed an impressive record of 45 wins from 48 bouts, earning world titles in both the light-welterweight and welterweight divisions.
His most iconic victories came against Kostya Tszyu and Jose Luis Castillo, while his high-profile defeats to Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao were defining moments in global boxing history.
Just months before his passing, Hatton had announced plans for a return to the ring. He was scheduled to fight Eisa Al Dah in Dubai on December 2, in what was billed as a professional middleweight bout. The match’s sanctioning status remained unclear.
Hatton had previously attempted a comeback in 2012, losing to Vyacheslav Senchenko in Manchester. He also participated in an exhibition bout against Marco Antonio Barrera in 2022.
Tributes have poured in from across the sporting world. Fellow boxer Amir Khan called Hatton “a mentor, a warrior,” and urged greater awareness around mental health, a struggle Hatton had openly discussed throughout his post-boxing life. Piers Morgan described the news as “incredibly sad,” noting Hatton’s enduring legacy in British sport.
Hatton leaves behind three children, including his son Campbell, who also pursued a career in boxing before retiring earlier this year.