Hitman.. the humble hero

THEY called him The Hitman because of the ferocious fists that destroyed some of the best boxers in the game.

- BY MATT ROPER

But Ricky Hatton fought his toughest battles outside the ring as he struggled with his mental health, a subject he was brave enough to talk about with brutal honesty.

He rose from the streets of Greater Manchester to become one of Britain's greatest ever boxers - winning seven world titles and an army of fans.

Along the way he went toe to toe with depression and addictions to booze and drugs, and faced the harsh comedown of early retirement.

The former carpet fitter lost three fights, two to men counted among the very best of all time.

Yesterday boxing lovers were mourning a unique working-class hero, gone at just 46.

Born in Stockport in October 1978, Ricky grew up on the Hattersley estate in the Tame-side area of Greater Manchester. His mum and dad, Carol and Ray, owned four pubs, including the one they lived in. His first hero, Bruce Lee, inspired him to take up kickboxing. But by the age of 11 he had turned to boxing, becoming one of the brightest talents ever to walk through the doors of Billy Graham's gym in Moss Side.

"I discovered my talent was in my fists and not in my feet," Ricky once recalled.

After winning his first schoolboy title aged 14, Ricky's parents built him a gym in the basement of their pub, coming down to cheer him on as his pummelled his punch bag.

His father and grandfather had both played for Manchester City reserves and Ricky had trials with the youth team at the club he loved.

City's anthem Blue Moon remained his ring-walk song throughout his career, with fellow fans Liam and Noel Gallagher carrying his belts into the ring for a Vegas fight in 2008.