British boxing legend Ricky Hatton has been discovered useless at his residence in Gee Cross, Hyde, Higher Manchester, at age 46. Higher Manchester Police found the physique at his residence on Bowlacre Highway at 6:45 AM on Sunday, September 14, and confirmed the loss of life isn’t being handled as suspicious.
The news comes just two months after Hatton announced his planned return to professional boxing. The former world champion had been scheduled to face United Arab Emirates fighter Eisa Al Dah in Dubai on December 2, marking what would have been his first competitive fight in 13 years.
Ricky Hatton Found Dead
Ricky Hatton compiled a professional record of 45 wins and 3 losses over a 15-year career spanning 1997 to 2012. The Stockport-born fighter held multiple world championships at light-welterweight and welterweight divisions, earning recognition as one of Britain’s most beloved boxing figures.
His career reached its pinnacle in 2005 when he defeated Kostya Tszyu for the IBF, Ring, and lineal light-welterweight titles in Manchester. Later that year, he claimed the WBA title by defeating Carlos Maussa, becoming a unified light-welterweight world champion. In 2006, Hatton moved up to welterweight and captured the WBA title by defeating Luis Collazo.
The Ring magazine, Boxing Writers Association of America, and ESPN all named Hatton Fighter of the Year in 2005. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2024.
High-Profile Defeats and Mental Health Struggles
Hatton’s career took a downturn following his first professional defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in December 2007. The loss triggered a severe melancholy that might plague him for years. He later suffered a second-round knockout defeat to Manny Pacquiao in Could 2009.
After these defeats, Hatton openly battled depression, alcohol abuse, and cocaine use. He revealed in multiple interviews that he attempted suicide several occasions throughout this era. “I attempted to kill myself a number of occasions,” Hatton admitted in a 2016 BBC interview. “I used to go to the pub, come again, take the knife out and sit there at midnight crying hysterically”.
Hatton sought treatment at The Priory rehabilitation facility in 2010 after being caught on camera using cocaine. He later credited Tony Adams’ Sporting Chance Clinic with helping him overcome his mental health struggles.
Final Fighting Years and Retirement
Following his loss to Pacquiao, Ricky Hatton initially retired in 2011 but attempted a comeback in 2012. His return lasted one battle, struggling a ninth-round knockout defeat to Vyacheslav Senchenko in Manchester, after which he instantly introduced his last retirement.
Hatton remained out of competitive boxing for 13 years, though he participated in an exhibition match against Marco Antonio Barrera in 2022. During his retirement, he worked as a boxing promoter and trainer, coaching young fighters including his son Campbell at his gym near Manchester.
Manchester City Connection
Throughout his career, Hatton maintained a strong connection to Manchester City Football Club, using the team’s anthem “Blue Moon” as his entrance music. His passionate fanbase regularly traveled internationally to support him, with thousands of Manchester City supporters following his career around the world.
Hatton frequently spoke about remaining grounded despite his success, continuing to attend matches and visit local pubs. “I go to the same pubs and I go to the match on Saturdays,” he said in 2024. “I think that’s why the fan base I had was so massive. They see me as one of them”.
Recent Comeback Plans
Just two months before his death, Hatton had announced his return to boxing after 13 years of retirement. The 46-year-old was set to face Eisa Al Dah, also 46, in an eight-round middleweight contest in Dubai on December 2.
Hatton expressed optimism about his mental state leading up to the planned comeback, stating he was “in a really good place now, loving life” and that the opportunity to fight again had presented itself. He was unable to attend the official announcement of the fight in person due to an eye injury sustained while attending an Oasis reunion concert in Cardiff.
The boxing community and fans worldwide have been left shocked by the sudden loss of one of Britain’s most popular and successful fighters, who had appeared to overcome his personal struggles and was looking forward to his return to the ring.
