The Daily Populous Sunday September 14th, 2025 evening edition
Authored by news.sky.com and submitted by tardiusmaximus

Former world champion boxer Ricky Hatton has died aged 46.

During his career between 1997 and 2012, the British fighter - nicknamed "The Hitman" - won titles in the light welterweight and welterweight divisions.

Follow the latest: Tributes being paid to former boxing world champion

In July this year, he announced he was coming out of retirement for a December bout in Dubai, 13 years on from his last professional match.

The Manchester boxer had been set to fight Eisa Al Dah on 2 December.

In 2023, Sky broadcast a documentary exploring the boxer's life in the ring, his fractured personal life and his continuing mental health battles.

Greater Manchester Police said on Sunday: "Officers were called by a member of the public to attend Bowlacre Road, Hyde, Tameside, at 6.45am today where they found the body of a 46-year-old man.

"There are not currently believed to be any suspicious circumstances."

Sky News Sport Correspondent Rob Harris called Hatton "one of the great personalities of British boxing," crediting him with "galvanising the sport".

He said: "As he would travel around the world, winning fights, he would bring that huge fan base with him… To have the career he had, with 45 victories and three defeats, was impressive...

Image: Hatton in his last professional fight against Vyacheslav Senchenko in 2012. Pic: Reuters

"This will be devastating to many boxing fans and particularly his family, given it was just weeks before he was due to make his comeback… So many people will be reflecting on just what a contribution and what an icon he was to British boxing and just how he could seem so ordinary as well, while still achieving great sporting heights".

During his 15-year professional career, Hatton held multiple world championships at light-welterweight and one at welterweight class.

In his prime, Hatton secured victories over the likes of Kostya Tszyu and Jose Luis Castillo, before going on to suffer brutal knockout losses to Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2007 and Manny Pacquiao in 2009.

Hatton last fought professionally in November 2012, suffering a knockout loss to Ukraine's Vyacheslav Senchenko.

He once more returned to the ring for a non-scoring exhibition bout with Marco Antonio Barrera in 2022.

Image: Ricky Hatton's WBC welterweight fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2007. Pic: Reuters

Be the first to get Breaking News Install the Sky News app for free

Messages from those in the sports world poured in following news of his death, with boxers including Amir Khan, Tyson Fury, Chris Eubank Jr and Barry McGuigan, and footballers Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney all paying tribute.

As one of Manchester City's most famous fans, the team announced there would be a minute's appreciation ahead of the Manchester derby on Sunday afternoon.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:02 Manchester City, the football team Ricky Hatton supported throughout his life, held a minute's applause for the late boxer ahead of their derby game against Manchester United.

Born Richard John Hatton in Stockport, Cheshire, in October 1978, he rose through amateur and domestic levels to become one of the most popular fighters in the first decade of the new century.

But he had suffered a series of well-publicised issues in his private life since his 2009 defeat against Pacquiao in their IBO light-welterweight title fight in Las Vegas.

Hatton said at the time he did not want to see those demons tarnish his legacy in the sport, and had another world title belt in his sights.

In 2010, he was admitted to rehab, struggling with drink and depression.

Hatton overcame a fallout with his family and a court case with his former trainer Billy Graham to become a successful trainer, coaching Zhanat Zhakiyanov to a world bantamweight title win in 2017.

Image: Hatton with professional ice-skater Robin Johnstone on Dancing On Ice in 2024. Pic: PA

His down-to-earth attitude endeared him to fans around the world and, in 2024, he joined ITV reality show Dancing On Ice, but was the first celebrity to leave the competition.

His professional skating partner, Robin Johnstone, paid tribute on Instagram, saying she was "beyond sad" at the "devastating news," adding, "You were a true friend."

Everybody wanted a piece of Ricky Hatton Katie Spencer Arts and entertainment correspondent There are few sporting stars who cross from the newspaper back pages to become front page news... but Ricky Hatton always was one of them. Aside from his boxing brilliance, it was his personality and humour which made people pay attention. In recent years, his happy-go-lucky character saw him cast on reality shows like Dancing on Ice. But what's more interesting is how and why the public came to have such great affection for him back in the day. Putting it kindly, sports stars aren't always known for their sparkling personalities. It was Ricky's lack of interest in the trappings of fame which accompanied his epic run of victories that made him all the more cool. He was the working class hero who seemed unstoppable. It was a story that everyone wanted to follow. Celebrities wanted to be seen alongside him. Piggy-backing off his popularity the likes of Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Denzel Washington and David Beckham were all pictured ringside at one time or another, drawn to his fan-friendly style and impressive winning streak. At the same time as the Gallagher brothers were flying the flag for music from Manchester, Hatton was doing the same for boxing. During his 2008 fight against Paulie Malignaggi, he infamously had Liam and Noel escort him to the ring. In an interview he said he thought all three of them might be killed when Liam held up Hatton's IBO belt inches from Malignaggi's face and with a swagger said 'what do you think about that you d*** head?'. Stories like that are why his appeal extended beyond sport. He was an ordinary bloke who'd done extraordinary things. He never lost sight of who he was and fans loved him for it.

Speaking ahead of his final professional fight in 2012, Hatton, who was a father of three, told reporters: "I don't want people telling my kids that I blew it. I want my kids to be able to say, 'He was a world champion, he had his problems, but my did he bounce back'.

"I want people to be proud of me again. I want British sport, my kids and my fans and my friends to be proud of me."

Hatton leaves behind his three children, daughters Millie and Fearne and son Campbell.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.

BmorePride14 on September 14th, 2025 at 11:56 UTC »

I dont really follow boxing, but I saw him fight Manny Pacquiao in person as a kid and it's one of my fondest memories. Everyone was so hyped, and it's the only boxing event I've ever attended live.

So for that alone, thanks Ricky and RIP.

ZNWD on September 14th, 2025 at 11:51 UTC »

Suicide by the looks of his local boxing club WhatsApp

Mo_SaIah on September 14th, 2025 at 11:44 UTC »

Wow, definitely not what I was expecting to pop up on my feed. RIP Ricky.