Seher Asaf
Live reporter

Image source, getty

Friends, fans and former rivals are remembering the life of British boxing great Ricky Hatton.

The former world champion, 46, was found dead in his home in Greater Manchester earlier Sunday. His death is not considered suspicious, police say.

"Today we lost not only one of Britain's greatest boxers, but a friend, a mentor, a warrior," says former world champion Amir Khan, who remembers Hatton as a major inspiration to his career.

"Like many he was one of my first introductions into boxing," unified super-bantamweight champion Ellie Scotney writes on X. "What the Hitman did for not just British Boxing but boxing in general will forever live on."

Hatton won 45 of 48 professional bouts across his 15-year career, and last fought professionally in 2012. He matched up with some of the biggest names of his generation, including Kostya Tszyu, Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao.

He grew a dedicated following of fans in the UK and beyond, who are today remembering his kind-hearted manner and acute sense of humour.

A life-long supporter of Manchester City, the club has held a "minute of appreciation" for Hatton at today's derby against Manchester United.

We'll be ending our live coverage for now, but you can read more about the life of Ricky Hatton and tributes to his legacy in our news story.

James Kelly
UGC Hub

Paul Storr from Leeds tells us that Ricky Hatton "ignited my passion for boxing as a teenager".

"I vividly remember staying up late, on my own at home, to watch his fight with Floyd Mayweather, and crying when he got KO'd," he says.

Paul remembers him as "a showman but so vulnerable too... you could imagine having a pint with him".

Although he "never had the pleasure of meeting him", he says: "It sounds weird, but I'll miss him so much.

"God bless you Rick and thank you for the memories."

James Kelly
UGC Hub

Image source, Alex Noble

Alex Noble, from Whitley Bay, says he and his wife, Cheryl, bumped into Ricky Hatton at a hotel bar in Newcastle in 2013.

"I asked if I could phone my mate and if [Ricky] would have a chat with him. 'Not a problem,' he said," the 54-year-old tells us. "So we called and had a right laugh as my mate obviously didn't believe it was him."

Hatton had been at a fundraising event in Gateshead and demonstrated the warmth towards his fans that he was renowned for.

Noble and his wife ended up sitting in Hatton's Bentley outside the hotel.

"We'd all had a few drinks by then and seen his car outside and I asked if I could get in. He said to go and ask the driver, whose name he gave to me, to say Ricky said I could have a look at his car!

"I still have his autograph [from] that night on my fridge. The word, 'legend' is overused these days but he was a legend in so may ways. We’re all going to miss you Ricky."

James Kelly
UGC Hub

Image source, David Tyler

David Tyler, who is from Cardiff, met Ricky Hatton at a boxing and bodybuilding expo at the Birmingham NEC in 2012.

The 43-year-old says Hatton was an "absolute gent of a guy with a sense of humour second to none". During the meeting, Tyler got a photo with the boxing champion.

"Shortly after this picture was taken, I sent it to Rick via what was then Twitter, stating 'Rick, you're lucky I was going to put that fist on your chin'," he says. "Rick had put on a bit of weight between fights and simply replied: 'Which chin?'"

Tyler recalls that at the event Hatton had given his fans a chance to wear a body vest and take a punch from him.

"I will remember him not just for being the people's champ, but for taking the breath out of me also. Such a sad loss," he says.

Image source, PA Media

Ricky Hatton, also known as "The Hitman", had a remarkable 15-year career that included winning world titles in two weight classes.

His stunning 2005 victory over Kostya Tszyu in Manchester made him the light welterweight champion.

"If I can be half the champion Tszyu is, I'll be doing very well," he told a crowd of 22,000 people, who had gathered there to watch the highly charged match.

Two years later, he beat Mexico's Jose Luis Castillo with a stunning fourth-round knockout in Las Vegas. Reflecting on that fight, he said: "I trained for 12 rounds of pain tonight. I told everybody that I've never had a training camp like it before and I think it showed.

"Sometimes I have tried too hard to put on a show and that has got me in trouble in the past."

Beyond the boxing ring, Hatton spoke candidly about his mental health struggles.

In an interview with the BBC in 2022, he reflected on his 2009 knockout defeat by Manny Pacquiao - saying he "got to rock bottom" following the loss.

But a chance to fight old rival turned friend Marco Antonio Barrera reenergised him.

"I think my family, my loved ones and parents could see, everyone from my boxers in the gym to my kids and grandkids was getting a better Ricky Hatton because I was in such a good place and had something to strive for," he said.

James Kelly
UGC Hub

Image source, PA Media

Ricky Hatton's fans "felt the punches and they felt his pain too", says boxing commentator and author Pete Carvill.

"He seemed, more than anything, to be one of them: he drank too much, he ate too much, he liked to have a good time," he says. "That was why so many people gravitated to him."

"The only difference was that he had been kissed by a miracle in that he seemed born to fight in the ring," says Carvill.

"He was an honest fighter, not one who hid behind skills and frills," he adds. "People loved him for it."

Dying at 46 is "much too young an age for anyone", Carvill says before adding: "It is much too young an age for Ricky Hatton. He should have grown old."

He adds a message to Ricky:

Image source, Thomas McDonagh

A former boxer who grew up training with Ricky Hatton says that "even as a 12, 13, 14-year-old, he was knocking everyone out".

Thomas McDonagh says he had looked up to the former world champion since they were children training at gyms in Greater Manchester.

"I'd known Ricky since I was about 10 or 11. As a kid he was an unbelievable fighter, he was a superstar."

McDonagh, who helps run Collyhurst and Moston Boxing Club, says Hatton was a "Manchester legend" who had helped fundraise for the venue in recent years and "came to all our amateur boxing shows".

"He came to the gym all the time, he'd just got time for everyone, he came over and sat down and talked to them," McDonagh told BBC Radio Manchester.

"He was down to earth and didn't change a tiny bit."

• You can read more about Thomas McDonagh's training with Hatton in our story

Luke Reddy
BBC Sport

Image source, PA Media

British boxing broadcasters Steve Bunce and Mike Costello once told me a story about the magnetism of Hatton.

In the sprawling corridors of a Las Vegas hotel, the pair were on air, discussing Hatton’s imminent fight while British punters lined up to gain entry into the weigh-in. The weigh-in, on this occasion, was the next day.

That’s how much pull the Mancunian generated, overnight queues were necessary.

Bunce and Costello approched punters in the queue, live, on air, and asked them if they had a personal Hatton story.

Fan after fan told the 5 Live audience of how they were linked to Hatton. A friend, a relative, drank at the same spot, grew up in the same road. They all shared one thing - connection.

That one word encapsulates ‘The Hitman’. No British fighter since - not Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury or Amir Khan - has come remotely close to creating what Hatton did in the US.

The boy from the Hattersley Council estate was flanked by his own travelling army and every current and future British fighter who laces up gloves will dream about having what he had.

His career was remarkable. From insane weight cuts to the calibre of legendary opponents it took to stop his momentum. And yet it is that connection that will endure.

It was not uncommon to be around Mexican and US boxing stars who would end chats or an interview with, “Say hello to my good friend Ricky Hatton”. They knew what he represented, they’d stood and admired his pull, they wanted in on the love.

There will indeed only ever be one Ricky Hatton. He carried fans - all of whom felt they knew him - to a wonderland they will never forget.

Image source, Getty Images

Applause has rung out across the Etihad stadium in Manchester as a "minute of appreciation" is held for Ricky Hatton.

Coming ahead of kick off at today's Manchester derby, BBC football correspondent John Murray says "this might be the day of the football derby, but this sporting city of Manchester has been brought together today".

He describes Manchester City anthem 'Blue Moon' being sung with "extra gusto" in the stadium, adding that Man City manager Pep Guardiola was looking visibly emotional "with tears in his eyes".

Hatton was a passionate supporter of Manchester City Football Club, which paid tribute to him earlier today.

Former professional boxer and commentator Stacey Copeland pays tribute to Ricky Hatton.

"To say it's an enormous shock is an understatement", she says, sounding audibly emotional.

"He was always approachable, he always felt like one of us," Copeland adds. "He was an idol for many youngsters, all of us growing up looked up to Ricky Hatton."

She adds that she saw him just last Thursday, in the gym where he was training for his planned comeback fight in Dubai.

• You can listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Image source, John Iacono/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

Manny Pacquiao has posted a tribute to Hatton, who he famously beat in a match in 2009. It was this match that Hatton said ended his career.

"I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Ricky Hatton. He was not only a great fighter inside the ring but also a brave and kind man in life," Pacquiao writes on X.

"We shared unforgettable moments in boxing history and I will always honor the respect and sportsmanship he showed."

Hatton fought both in the ring and "in his journey through life," Pacquiao continues, and says it was a blessing to have been part of his journey.

Image source, Getty Images

Former world champion boxer Amir Khan tells the BBC News Channel that Ricky Hatton "was a massive inspiration to me and my career".

Recalling advice Hatton gave him ahead of his first fight in America, against Paulie Malignaggi, Khan adds: "He was telling me, 'Paulie is from New York and New Yorkers are very vocal, so don't let him get under your skin. Stay calm, stay focused'. So that's what I did."

"I went to his training camp a couple of times... what motivated me was how hard he train[ed]," recalls Khan. "That pushed me more."

Khan says he and Hatton had been close, regularly exchanging messages and with Hatton attending his wedding.

"There was talks about me and him fighting one day, but we were just too close as friends," he adds.

Image source, Al Bello/Getty Images for Netflix

"Like many he was one of my first introductions into boxing," unified super-bantamweight champion Ellie Scotney writes on X.

She adds: "What the Hitman did for not just British Boxing but boxing in general will forever live on."

Former WBO female world lightweight champion Rhiannon Dixon says the boxing world "lost a legend today, but the love and respect he earned will live on forever".

"You've inspires more than you'll ever know," she writes of Hatton.

"Heartbreaking," World Boxing Organization female lightweight champion Terri Harper.

Image source, WireImage

"Woke up to the devastating news of the passing of my very dear friend," says professional figure skater Robin Johnstone.

Johnstone was partnered with Ricky Hatton for series 16 of the celebrity television skating competition Dancing on Ice.

"I'm beyond sad," she says in the tribute on Instagram. "You were a true friend."

"Sending my love to his beautiful girls... and his son," she adds.

Image source, Getty Images

Speaking to the BBC in 2022, Ricky Hatton discussed his struggles with his mental health over the years.

The boxer was defeated by Floyd Mayweather in 2007, and Manny Pacquiao in 2009. Those defeats left him deeply depressed and led to the darkest times of his life.

After his knockout in 2009 he knew his career was over, despite a short-lived comeback in 2012.

"I had no boxing. My career was over. I'd fallen out with my parents. I'd fallen out with my trainer Billy Graham. That's when it got to rock bottom," he said.

"I just went out on the warpath. It was horrible for people to see."

He described these feelings three years ago, when he was preparing for an exhibition fight with an old rival turned good friend - former three-weight world champion Marco Antonio Barrera, at the AO Arena in Manchester.

Eight months beforehand, Hatton was 15st 4lbs, drinking every weekend, indulging in too many takeaways and neglecting his health.

He told the BBC he was "massively obese", but getting back in the ring was a "very easy decision".

"The whole purpose was to set myself a goal for this exhibition, to get in shape and inspire so many people."

In the end, Hatton said he got “everything and more" after the fight.

For information and support on mental health, access the BBC Action Line.

• Ricky Hatton: Boxing legend on reaching rock bottom, incredible weight transformation and ring return

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Rebekah Wilson
BBC News NI

Image source, Getty Images

Belfast boxing champion Ryan Burnett has paid tribute to Ricky Hatton - who was his trainer, manager and promoter.

He shared a string of photos on Instagram of the pair over many years. "My friend, you’ll be so sorely missed. Love ya mate," he says on the platform.

Hatton helped launch Burnett's professional career.

Image source, Getty Images

We've just heard from Nick Campbell, former Scottish heavyweight champion. He's told BBC News that Ricky Hatton was one of his favourite fighters while he was growing up.

He recalls watching Hatton's famous Las Vegas fight against Floyd Mayweather - his first loss in professional boxing after an incredible 43-0 record.

"I don't think Vegas had ever seen anything like it, or seen anything like it since," Campbell recalls.

"He brought the best out of Floyd Mayweather - it wasn't really up until that point that anybody in the UK thought Floyd Mayweather was a great fighter, it was only when he came out against Ricky Hatton."

Campbell did not know Hatton personally, but says he knows many who did: "A lot of people thought incredibly highly of him and wherever he went he put a smile on people's faces.

A lover of football, a champion at boxing.

We've taken a look at how some of Hatton's fellow professional boxers have been reacting to his death:

Luke Campbell, mayor for Hull and East Yorkshire and former boxing Olympic gold medallist, said: "I grew up watching Ricky Hatton he was an inspiration to me, and a legend in the world of boxing."

Adam Booth, who trained heavyweight champion David Haye, wrote on X: "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."

Promoter Eddie Hearn also posted a tribute on Instagram: "Absolutely devastating news, rest in peace Ricky."

Image source, Shirlaine Forrest/Getty Images

As we've been reporting, Ricky Hatton was a lifelong fan of Manchester City, and you can read more about their tribute to him in our previous post.

Football clubs and players have also shared messages to remember the champion boxer, here's some of what we've seen:

Local team to where Hatton lived, Hyde United FC, are "devastated".

"He was a local and boxing legend who always championed local sport and brought joy into so many lives. A huge, committed figure who gave dedicated time back to the community," they say in a statement.

Also included in football-related tributes is former Liverpool player John Aldrige.

He writes: "I was lucky to have met him on numerous occasions and he was a top bloke it's so sad far to young to be taken away."

Soccer Aid pay tribute through a series of photos of Hatton in an England football kit, they look back to his appearance for the charity football game in 2010.

In a post on X, alongside the images they say their thoughts are with his family and friend and recall Ricky's comment after his stint on the football pitch: "I should stick to my boxing."