Boxing legend Ricky Hatton has been found dead at his home in Hyde, Tameside, Greater Manchester, at the age of 46. Greater Manchester Police have said they are not treating his death as suspicious. A spokesperson said: “Officers were called by a member of the public to attend Bowlacre Road, Hyde, Tameside, at 6.45am today [September 14] where they found the body of a 46-year-old man. There are not currently believed to be any suspicious circumstances.”
Nicknamed “The Hitman”, Mr Hatton’s career included two world titles in two weight classes – light-welterweight and welterweight. He rose through amateur and domestic levels to eventually go up against the best boxers of his generation, including Kostya Tszyu, Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao. He achieved an impressive 43-0 record before his first loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr at the MGM Grand in 2007. The Briton had been due to make a comeback to the ring in December.
Mr Hatton is survived by his children Millie, Fearne and Campbell, and a granddaughter, Lyla.
Mr Hatton’s family and friends have been inundated with online tributes from some of sport’s most famous icons, including Amir Khan, Paddy McGuinness, Tyson Fury, and Wayne Rooney.
Amir Khan is said to have been “hit quite hard” by the boxer’s death, telling the Mirror: “It’s really, really sad news. It’s shattering hearing the news about Ricky. You just look back and you see how short life is.
“He was at my first ever professional fight. when. I turned over and the first ever deal we did with ITV he was working on that fight with Mario Kindelan. He’s always been a very close friend and he always messages me, we keep in touch. He was at my wedding. Honestly we’ve lost a really good man, he was an amazing man, it’s really sad to hear.
“I hope his family are OK, my thoughts are with them. It’s something that I never really expected at such a young age. It’s such a shock of hearing that he’s died, he’s a legend of the sport. He wasn’t only a professional boxer, he was a friend of mine as well. You could always have a chat with him and laugh with him. It has hit me quite hard because he was very close to me.”
Multiple world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury wrote on Instagram: “Rip to the legend @rickyhatton may he rip. There will only ever be 1 Ricky hatton. can’t believe this so young.”
Paddy McGuinness paid an emotional tribute on his BBC Radio 2 show, fighting back tears as he announced the death of Ricky Hatton to his listeners.
He said: “Apologies everyone just had to play a couple of songs back to back there. I’ve just learned this terrible news that… a great mate of mine has passed away, Ricky Hatton.”
Meanwhile Wayne Rooney took to X to write: “Devastated. A legend, a warrior, and a great person. Thoughts are with all Ricky’s family.”
Mr Hatton had announced his return to boxing during the summer, with a fight with United Arab Emirates’ Eisa Al Dah in a middleweight bout scheduled for December 2.
In recent years, the boxing legend also became vocal about his own struggles with mental health. He became an ambassador for the mental health charity Campaign Against Living Miserably in 2023.
“If a boxer can come out and say they’re struggling and crying every day, it’s going to make a huge difference,” he told the BBC in 2020. “Having gone through it, I now see it as my job to help those suffering with mental health.”
Greater Manchester Police have said they are not treating his death as suspicious.