LONDON – British boxer Ricky Hatton, a former two-division world champion, has died on the age of 46, the World Boxing Affiliation mentioned on Sunday.
Nicknamed ‘the Hitman’, Hatton received the WBA, IBO and IBF light-welterweight titles and the WBA welterweight world championship throughout his 15-year skilled profession earlier than retiring in 2012.
He had been attributable to make a comeback for an occasion in Dubai this yr.
“A real champion, an indomitable spirit and a legend of the game. Your legacy will stay on in each struggle and within the hearts of boxing followers all over the world,” the WBA posted on Instagram.
Higher Manchester Police mentioned {that a} physique had been discovered on Sunday morning at an handle in Hyde within the northern English metropolis.
“The demise will not be being handled as suspicious,” a police spokesperson mentioned.
Hatton had 45 wins in 48 bouts over his profession however within the years after he retired he mentioned he had tried to kill himself a number of instances and had been open about his battle with melancholy, drink and medicines.
“I used to be coming off the rails with my consuming and that led to medicine. It was like a runaway practice,” he advised BBC radio in 2016.
Hatton’s greatest efficiency got here in 2005 when he stopped Australian Kostya Tszyu so as to add the IBF light-welterweight title to the WBU belt he already held.
He had an ideal 43-0 file till he was floored by Floyd Mayweather Jr in Las Vegas in 2007 and was by no means the identical once more.
Hatton’s second loss got here in 2009, when Manny Pacquiao knocked him out.
“At this time we misplaced not solely certainly one of Britain’s best boxers, however a pal, a mentor, a warrior, Ricky Hatton,” former light-welterweight champion and fellow British boxer Amir Khan posted on X.
“Ricky, thanks for all the things. To your fights, your moments of glory, your grit. Thanks for pushing us, exhibiting us what’s doable … you’ll all the time have your house within the ring of our recollections.”
Manchester Metropolis mentioned there will probably be a minute’s appreciation for Hatton earlier than Sunday’s Premier League house sport in opposition to Manchester United. Hatton, a Metropolis fan, wore sky blue shorts, matching the soccer membership’s colors, in most of his bouts.
“Ricky was certainly one of Metropolis’s most cherished and revered supporters … everybody on the membership want to ship our heartfelt condolences to his household and mates,” Metropolis added.
—Reuters
