Ricky Hatton, Former World Boxing Champion, Dies at 46
Manchester, England – Ricky Hatton, the beloved British boxing star who captivated a nation with his aggressive style and devoted fanbase, has died at the age of 46. The declaration prompted an outpouring of grief from the boxing world and his hometown of Manchester.
Hatton rose to prominence with his stunning 2005 victory over Kostya Tszyu at the Manchester Arena, claiming the IBF world super lightweight (light welterweight) title. Tszyu,a pound-for-pound great who had only lost twice previously,was forced to retire on his stool in front of 22,000 fans. Hatton later described it as his greatest win, marking the beginning of a period where he competed at the highest level of the sport, drawing thousands of British fans to his fights in America.
A hugely popular figure, Hatton’s career saw him challenge Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2007 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, suffering his first professional defeat. He fought again at the top level against Manny Pacquiao in 2009, losing inside two rounds, and afterward retired.
Hatton faced personal struggles after his retirement, battling weight gain, depression, and allegations of drug use. He made a remarkable comeback in 2012, losing to Vyacheslav Senchenko, but the return itself was widely celebrated as a personal triumph.
Frank Warren, Hatton’s former manager, remembered him as a “superbly talented fighter who inspired a generation of young boxers and fans in a way very few had done before,” adding he would ”rightly go down as one of the modern greats of this sport.”
Beyond boxing, Hatton was a lifelong supporter of manchester City football Club. The club announced a minute of thankfulness will be held for him at Sunday’s derby against Manchester united, stating he was “one of City’s most loved and revered supporters” and would “always be remembered for a glittering boxing career that saw him win world titles at welterweight and light-welterweight.”
In later years, Hatton found success as a trainer, notably coaching Zhanat Zhakiyanov to a world bantamweight title win in 2017. He had recently announced a return to the ring later this year.
The British Boxing Board of Control stated it was “very saddened” to hear of his passing.
