Former world welterweight champion Hatton dies at 46

The British boxing legend Ricky Hatton has been found dead at the age of 46.

- LUKE BAKER

Hatton, who held multiple world titles in the light-welterweight division, as well as one at welterweight during a storied boxing career, was one of the most popular British boxers of all time.

A police cordon was in place around his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester. Police confirmed that a body had been found at the address and that the death was not being treated as suspicious.

The Stockport-born star was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine in 2005 and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2024.

He was first crowned world champion when he stunned the Australian Kosta Tszyu at the Manchester Arena in 2005, then went on to be involved in two of this century’s biggest bouts involving a British fighter when he faced Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao.

Although he lost both fights, he was loved by a raucous fan base that travelled thousands of miles to watch him fight due to his bravery in the ring, all-action style and down-to-earth persona.

He hung up his gloves after his knockout defeat to Pacquiao in 2009, but returned three years later when he lost to Vyacheslav Senchenko in 2012. He also fought a nonscoring exhibition against Marco Antonio Barrera in 2022.

The news of Hatton’s death comes months after he announced another return to boxing with a fight planned in December, against the UAE’s Eisa Al Dah.