MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Ricky Hatton, the former boxing world champion who rose to turn out to be probably the most standard fighters within the sport, has died. He was 46.
Hatton was discovered useless at his dwelling in Better Manchester, Britain’s Press Affiliation reported Sunday.
Police mentioned they weren’t treating the dying as suspicious.
“Officers were called by a member of the public to attend Bowlacre Road, Hyde, Tameside, at 6:45 a.m. today where they found the body of a 46-year-old man,” Better Manchester Police mentioned in a press release. “There are not currently believed to be any suspicious circumstances.”
Associates of Hatton have been fast to pay tribute Sunday morning.
“Today we lost not only one of Britain’s greatest boxers, but a friend, a mentor, a warrior, Ricky Hatton,” former world champion, Amir Khan, posted on X.
“Rip to the legend Ricky Hatton may he rip,” former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury mentioned in an Instagram publish, with photographs of the pair collectively. “There will only ever be 1 Ricky Hatton. can’t believe this so young.”
In a poignant publish, his brother Matthew Hatton mentioned “I love you Richard” on X together with photographs of the brothers.
Information of Hatton’s dying comes two months after the shock announcement he would make a return to boxing in December in an expert bout in opposition to Eisa Al Dah in Dubai. He hadn’t fought since shedding for the third time in his profession, in opposition to Vyacheslav Senchenko in 2012.
Pacquiao’s tribute
Hatton gained world titles at light-welterweight and welterweight and on the top of his profession shared the ring with one of the best boxers of his era together with Kostya Tszyu, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
“He was not only a great fighter inside the ring but also a brave and kind man in life,” Pacquiao posted on X. “Ricky fought bravely, not just in the ring, but in his journey through life. He truly had a good fight, and we are all blessed to have been part of his wonderful journey.”
Hatton rose by means of beginner and home ranges, increase a military of passionate followers that adopted him to America for his largest fights.
His down-to-earth attraction, in addition to his tendency to dramatically acquire and drop pounds between fights, endeared him to followers the world over.
“Devastated. A legend, a warrior, and a great person,” mentioned former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney on X.
Hatton was open in regards to the psychological well being points he endured upon his retirement from the ring.
“As fighters, we tell ourselves we’re strong — we train, we sweat, we take hits, we get up. But sometimes the hardest fight happens in silence, in the mind,” Khan added on X. “Mental health isn’t weakness. It’s part of being human. And we must talk about it. We must reach out. We must lean on each other.”
High of the game
Hatton’s all-action type added to his reputation. He constructed up a passionate following within the UK earlier than actually asserting himself on the world stage together with his epic victory in opposition to Tszyu for the IBF world tremendous light-weight (gentle welterweight) title in 2005.
Pound for pound nice Tszyu had solely misplaced twice earlier than, however was pressured to retire on his stool in entrance of twenty-two,000 followers in Manchester.
Hatton later described it as his biggest win however it was simply the beginning of a interval when he fought on the prime of the game, with 1000’s of followers following him to America for large fights.
In a publish on X, his former supervisor, Frank Warren, described him as a “superbly talented fighter who inspired a generation of young boxers and fans in a way very few had done before,” including he’ll “rightly go down as one of the modern greats of this sport.”
Hatton misplaced for the primary time in his profession in opposition to Mayweather on the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in 2007.
After a offered out homecoming at Manchester Metropolis’s stadium a yr later, he labored his manner again to the highest of the game to tackle Manny Pacquiao in 2009, shedding inside two rounds.
Hatton retired after that defeat, however made a exceptional comeback 4 years later after piling on weight and enduring points with despair and consuming, in addition to allegations of drug use. Whereas he misplaced to Senchenko, the actual fact he managed to return to the ring was seen as a private triumph.
The British Boxing Board of Management mentioned it was “very saddened” to listen to of his passing.
Man Metropolis fan
Exterior of the ring, Hatton was a lifelong fan of Manchester Metropolis.
The Premier League membership had a minute’s appreciation for Hatton at Sunday’s derby in opposition to Manchester United. Earlier than kickoff on the Etihad Stadium, followers from each groups rose to applaud Hatton in a present of unity and affection for the boxer.
“Ricky was one of City’s most loved and revered supporters, who will always be remembered for a glittering boxing career that saw him win world titles at welterweight and light-welterweight,” Metropolis mentioned in a press release. “Everyone at the Club would like to send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.”
The announcement of Hatton’s return to the ring later this yr got here after he had loved success as a coach, teaching Zhanat Zhakiyanov to a world bantamweight title win in 2017.
