Fans, friends and sporting stars pay tribute to British boxing champion Ricky Hatton

Fans are remembering the champion boxer

Tributes from fans, friends and boxing rivals are being paid to the world champion boxer Ricky Hatton.

It is after it was announced the 46-year-old had died on Sunday.

Friend and fellow boxer Tyson Fury shared a post on Instagram, saying: "Rip to the legend Ricky Hatton... There will only ever be 1 Ricky Hatton."

Whilst former world champion Amir Khan remembered Hatton as 'a friend, a mentor, a warrior'.

Ricky Hatton was also a big Manchester City fan.

The club paid tribute to him at the Manchester derby on Sunday with a "minute of appreciation".

In a statement, they described Ricky as one of City's "most loved and revered supporters", going on to say, "he will always be remembered".

Who was Ricky Hatton?

During his career he achieved world titles in two weight classes: Light-welterweight and welterweight

Ricky Hatton, also known as 'the Hitman' and the 'People's Champion' to fans, was a British professional boxer.

He competed between 1997 and 2012 before retiring from the competition and working as a boxing promoter and trainer, even helping with his son's professional boxing career too.

Hatton won 45 of 48 professional fights across his 15-year career, including against some of the biggest names of his generation.

During his career he achieved world titles in two weight classes.

He was also a lifelong supporter of Manchester City Football Club and was known to enter the boxing ring to the song Blue Moon, the club's anthem.

Tributes to the boxer

Manchester derby held 'minute of appreciation' for Ricky Hatton

Since the announcement of his death, friends, fans and sporting stars have paid tribute to the boxer.

Former professional boxer and commentator Stacey Copeland spoke about her memories of Hatton, saying: "He was always approachable, he always felt like one of us. He was an idol for many youngsters, all of us growing up looked up to Ricky Hatton."

And it is not just boxers who have shared tributes to the star.

"He is someone who captured the nation, in terms of the support he got, they followed him all around the world", said former Manchester United and England player Wayne Rooney.

Whilst former Manchester City defender Micah Richards paid tribute ahead of the Manchester derby.

"The news is devastating," Richards said. "He's such a British icon... a true Man City fan, but most importantly he was a man of the people."