Tributes poured in for Ricky Hatton after he was found dead at his home in Greater Manchester, England at the age of 46.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed that his body was found at 6.45am on Sunday morning and that his death is not being treated as suspicious.
A former world champion at junior welterweight and welterweight and one of Britain’s finest and most popular ever fighters, Hatton also became a trainer and promoter in retirement, making him one of the most influential and celebrated British fight figures of all. He was also a grandfather and a father of three – to Campbell, who also fought professionally, Millie and Fearne.
The retired Amir Khan, whose career was enhanced by how popular Hatton had by then made boxing in Britain, wrote on social media: “Today we lost not only one of Britain’s greatest boxers, but a friend, a mentor, a warrior, Ricky Hatton.
“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.
“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.
“Ricky, thank you for everything. For your fights, your moments of glory, your grit. Thank you for pushing us, showing us what’s possible.
“To everyone reading this: if you’re hurting or struggling, you are not alone. Talk. Reach out. Because we need more light, more compassion, more understanding.
“Rest well, Ricky. You’ll always have your place in the ring of our memories.”
Frank Warren was the promoter who oversaw Hatton’s career from his professional debut to his career-best victory over Australia’s Kostya Tszyu in 2005, and he said: “I am extremely saddened to learn of the passing of British boxing legend Ricky Hatton. A superbly talented fighter who inspired a generation of young boxers and fans in a way very few had done before due to both his personality and the entertainment he provided in the ring.
“From making his debut in Widnes in 1997 to then go on to win one of the most historic fights in British boxing history against Kostya Tszyu in Manchester, Ricky will rightly go down as one of the modern greats of this sport. My deepest condolences go out to his family at this awful time.”
Luke Campbell, another retired British fighter, posted: “I grew up watching Ricky Hatton. He was an inspiration to me, and a legend in the world of boxing. RIP, Ricky. Love to your family.”
"I'm absolutely devastated to hear the news of the passing of Ricky Hatton," wrote Barry McGuigan. "He was a man of the people and a spectacular fighter. A great man inside the ring and a wonderful man outside of it. RIP, Ricky. My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this very difficult time."
Tyson Fury, similarly, struggled with substance abuse and suicidal thoughts, and recruited Hatton as an assistant trainer at the start of the comeback that established him as the leading heavyweight in the world.
"RIP to the legend Ricky Hatton," Fury wrote. "May he rest in peace. There will only ever be one Ricky Hatton. I can't believe this. He was so young."
"I'm so sad and lost for words," said Nick Blackwell. "Shocked Ricky Hatton has passed away. Legend of the sport."
"Everybody loved Ricky," wrote Eddie Hearn. "May he rest in eternal peace. Our deepest condolences to Campbell, [brother] Matthew and all of the Hatton family."
Adam Booth was in the opposite corner to Hatton for the world-bantamweight title fight between Hatton's former fighter Ryan Burnett and then-leading fighter Zhanat Zhakiyanov, and he posted: "Truly heartbreaking. Ricky, rest your soul in peace my friend. I hope your spirit can now truly feel the love and admiration that has always existed for you."
As a young fighter Hatton featured on the undercard of the fight in 1998 between Carl Thompson and Chris Eubank, and the latter's son Chris Jnr, one of Britain's leading fighters in 2025, wrote: "Rest in peace, Mr Ricky Hatton. We salute you."
By the time his profile and achievements had surpassed both Thompson's and Eubank's Hatton was being painted by the celebrated artist Richard Slone. "Rest in peace Ricky Hatton," Slone wrote. "Praying for his family at this devastating time. We lost an absolute gem of a human today. Left his mark on this world and will never be forgotten."
His penultimate fight, the defeat by the great Manny Pacquiao 11 years later, was overseen by Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach, who said: "Boxing has lost a great talent and a wonderful man. Manny and I so enjoyed working with Ricky promoting their fight. Ricky had a wonderful sense of humour, but more imoprtantly he was a warrior and a winner. Manny and I cut no corners in training camp preparing for that fight because we had so much respect for him. The team at Wild Card Boxing joins me in mourning the loss of Ricky as we extend our sympathies to his families and friends. There will be only one Ricky Hatton."
"Deeply shocked and saddened to hear the news," wrote Josh Taylor, who succeeded him as a 140lbs world champion from the UK. "He was my absolute hero and the reason I started to get into boxing. Absolutely loved his style. And what a character too; pure entertainment. He is a total legend in every sense of the word. Deepest condolences to him and his family. Rest in peace."
If the victory over Tszyu contributed to Hatton building a reputation as one of the finest junior welterweights in history, it also led to his being linked with a fight with Arturo Gatti, who so tragically died aged 37 in 2009. With particular poignancy, Gatti's then-manager Pat Lynch said: "So sad to hear. Nice guy.
"I brought him to Arturo's suite the morning of the Mayweather fight and the two of them spoke for over an hour. Talking like they knew each other forever. Now both are gone. May they rest in peace."
"I love you, Richard," wrote his younger brother Matthew simply. "See you on the other side."
