Ricky Hatton dies aged 46: Boxing icon found dead at home in Manchester this morning after missing gym and fight he was due to watch last night

Ricky Hatton, the former world boxing champion, has died aged 46 – just weeks after announcing his dramatic return to the ring.

The boxing icon was found at his home in Greater Manchester this morning, where mourners today emotionally laid floral tributes and gloves. His death is not being treated as suspicious.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: ‘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.’

Hatton had one son, Campbell, who retired from boxing at 24 to become a solar panel installer in July, two daughters, Millie and Fearne, and a granddaughter called Lyla.

Nicknamed ‘the Hitman’, Hatton was an aggressive and brave fighter who held multiple world and UK titles between 1997 and 2012 – including the night he toppled Russia’s Kostya Tszyu to go from underdog to boxing sensation overnight.

The Daily Mail understands that friends were initially concerned last night, when Hatton failed to appear at a fight in Bolton involving one of his boxers, believed to be Jack Murphy, after also missing his gym session on Friday.

After retiring from the ring, he had moved into coaching but was due to return to the sport with a fight planned in Dubai in December.

Hatton, who was awarded an MBE for services to sport in 2007, had often spoken of his struggles with mental health and drug addiction.

But his good friend, boxing pundit Steve Bunce, today revealed he ‘was in a really good place’ after ‘facing, attacking and solving’ his addictions.

A huge Manchester City supporter, Hatton was due to be at the Etihad Stadium for this afternoon’s derby with Manchester United, and had a table in a corporate hospitality area. It’s understood his beloved club will hold a minute’s applause and both sides will wear black armbands in memory of the fighter.

Floral tributes were left outside Hatton’s home by friends and fans as they stood in the pouring rain to pay tribute to the ex-champ.

One card, attached to a bouquet of flowers, read: ‘Ricky, just so many good memories with you! Thank you for always being there. Thank you for being the beautiful soul you are. Our thoughts are with your family. Dave, Jen, Lexi and Henry.’

Stephen Billing, 46, left a Manchester City scarf with ‘RIP Ricky’ written on it.

He said: ‘I was an alcoholic for five years. Ricky gave me some advice on how to stop and I have not drunk for five years. He was a good guy. A proper local lad. I used to see him out running and in the pub.

‘He was hard as nails both in and out of the ring, not in a bad way. He was just a normal guy. You wouldn’t have thought he was a professional boxer who had millions in the bank.’

Mr Billing said Hatton once gave him a boxing glove which he would cherish.

Hatton was an avid Oasis fan and one of his most memorable moments was when Noel and Liam Gallagher walked him into the ring holding his world title belts before his 2008 bout against Paulie Malignaggi in Las Vegas.

He won 45 of his 48 professional bouts during a stellar 15-year career. Among his career highlights was defeating Tszyu in Las Vegas in 2005 in what is regarded as one of boxing’s greatest ever upsets.

The boxer, who was guided by the eccentric Billy Graham, would dethrone the fearsome IBF world champion in front of an army of Manchester fans at the MEN Arena, which paved the way for a glittering career. 

But he would also suffer heartbreak during his career, losing to two greats of the sport in Floyd Mayweather (2007) and Manny Pacquiao (2009) before he retired in 2011. He made a brief comeback in 2012, but he was beaten by Vyacheslav Senchenko.

In July, Hatton – who would have turned 47 next month – announced his return to boxing, with a fight against the UAE’s Eisa Al Dah scheduled for December 2 in Dubai.

Just two days ago, Hatton had shared footage of him training intensely with a punching bag as he readied himself for his return to boxing. He captioned it: ‘Thursday session in the bag. #hitman #bluemoon #getupthereboy.’ 

Boxers past and present today led tributes to Hatton as they mourned the loss of ‘one of Britain’s greatest boxers’. 

Former world champion Amir Khan wrote: ‘Today we lost not only one of Britain’s greatest boxers, but a friend, a mentor, a warrior, Ricky Hatton.’

Chris Eubank Jr said: ‘Rest in peace Mr Ricky Hatton. We salute you.’

Tyson Fury posted two pictures of him and Hatton on Instagram and wrote: ‘Can’t believe this.

‘Rip to the legend @rickyhatton may he RIP. There will only ever be 1 Ricky Hatton. Can’t believe this so young.’

Actor Ray Winstone also paid tribute, writing: ‘Shocking news, feel like I’ve been punched in the stomach. I never even had the pleasure of meeting him but I still feel like I know him. A great champion in the ring and of the people. My deepest sympathies to his family. Rest in peace Champ gone far too early.’

Piers Morgan tweeted: ‘RIP Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton, 46. Found dead at his home in Manchester, police say no suspicious circumstances. What incredibly sad news.’

And Sacha Lord, Manchester’s nighttime economy adviser and owner of The Warehouse Project, said: ‘RIP Ricky Hatton. A gentle giant and absolute legend.’ 

He called for a minute’s silence to be held at today’s derby match between Hatton’s beloved Manchester City and Manchester United in his honour.

TV and radio host Paddy McGuinness fought back tears on his Radio 2 show today after learning news of Hatton’s death.

He told listeners: ‘Apologies everyone, just had to play a couple of songs back to back there, I’ve just learned this terrible news that a great mate of mine has passed away, Ricky Hatton.’

After a long pause, McGuinness added: ‘Sending love, and thoughts are with his family.’

He continued: ‘God. Ricky mate, wherever you are, this is for you…’ before playing Frank Sinatra’s Blue Moon, the anthem of Hatton’s football team, Manchester City.

McGuinness also paid tribute to Hatton on social media, posting a black-and-white image of a young Hatton and a snap of himself with the fighter, pop star Robbie Williams and friend Jonathan Wilkes, on Instagram with the caption: ‘World Champion. People’s Champion. I’ve had some great times with Ricky over the years.

‘From being out in Vegas to the streets of Manchester, he always had time for everyone.

‘Deepest condolences to Ray, Carol, Campbell, Millie, Fearne and all his family.

‘Rest In Greatness champ.’

Hatton rose through amateur and domestic levels to pit his wits against the best boxers of his generation.

But his down-to-earth demeanour also endeared him to fans across the world, and he was open about the mental health issues he endured upon his retirement from the ring.

He had previously spoken of his battle with depression and revealed that he had attempted suicide on multiple occasions.

Nine years ago he told the BBC: ‘I tried to kill myself several times. I used to go to the pub, come back, take the knife out and sit there in the dark crying hysterically.’

Hatton added: ‘There were times when I hadn’t had a drink for days and I’d still come home and if something went through my mind I’d start pondering something. It was the same outcome whether I was having a drink or wasn’t having a drink.

‘But in the end I thought “I’ll end up drinking myself to death” because I was so miserable. I was coming off the rails with my drinking and that led to drugs. It was like a runaway train.’

Police are now thought to be working with Hatton’s family about issuing a tribute.

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

In 2023, he released a personal documentary which charted his journey from the Hattersley estate near Manchester to headlining on the Las Vegas strip.

Hatton’s battle with mental health features prominently in the film and he talked about the ‘depression, addiction and shame’ that followed his defeats by Mayweather and Pacquiao.

It candidly revealed how his estrangement from his family for nearly a decade and the split from his coach pushed him to his absolute rock bottom.

During the film, Hatton said: ‘I was champion four times over but I consider myself a failure. I wasn’t supposed to end this way.’ 

But boxing pundit Bunce today revealed that Hatton was in a much better place.

He told Radio 5 Live: ‘It’s an unbelievably shocking piece of news, he has had some troubles Rick, he has talked about his mental health problems, he’s talked about his addictions, he’s faced them and attacked them and solved them, he was in a really good place.

‘He was preparing for an exhibition fight, the gym has been his salvation. He was getting his head and body in a better place.

‘He didn’t show up on Friday at the gym and he was meant to be at a fight last night and he didn’t show up at the fight.

‘It’s shocking news, had it been ten years ago when he was in the darkest place a man could be in, it would have been understandable but I’m generally shocked and amazed by it.

‘If you look at any images of him from the last two or three weeks its as good as he’s looked in 15 years, that’s why this will be an even bigger shock.’

He said he thought Hatton had faced his demons and come through. ‘My first reaction was I didn’t believe it,’ he added.

A clearly emotional Bunce said Hatton’s success was down to his ‘pure determination and desire’.

‘If he won there was nothing left, if he lost there was nothing left, he gave everything in both victory and defeat,’ he added.

‘He was a massive inspiration on both sides of the ropes.’

Bunce said Hatton was one of the most popular British fighters in history.

‘We use the cliché “the people’s champion”, but no one has come close to Ricky,’ he added. ‘The great sadness will be that at such a young age we’ve lost him.’

At the time of his official retirement, Hatton said: ‘A fighter knows when it’s not there, and it’s not there. I’ve had too many fights and burnt the candles at both ends.

‘I’ve lost four and half stone for this and my sparring was great but I’m not going to put myself through that torture again.

‘I got the answers. I was crying in the ring and no doubt I’ll be crying tonight but I’m happy. I had to go in there and find out and I did.

‘I’ve no complaints. It’s been three and a half years and you all know the story. I needed to put a few demons to rest and I said before the fight I felt I’d already won and that hasn’t changed.’

In his early 20s, Hatton had a brief relationship with a woman known only as Claire, who went on to have his boxer son, Campbell – born on January 9, 2001.

His longest relationship was with Jennifer Dooley between 2005 and 2016.

Ms Dooley was there for some of the highest points of his career, seeing him win or retain multiple world titles as well as being there for the presentation of his MBE at 2007’s New Year Honours.

Hatton proposed to her on Valentine’s Day of 2009.

He fatefully named the couple’s Cheshire house the ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ after Elvis Presley’s hit track.

But in 2010, Irish boxing champion Emma Bowe revealed that she had been having an 11-month affair with the boxer after getting his autograph in Dublin.

A rocky period between Ms Dooley and Hatton after the fighter’s retirement in 2012 included him moving in and out of their £3million home a number of times.

A December 2013 holiday bust-up led to Hatton moving out. But after moving back in again months later, in June 2014, he then left for a second time after going AWOL during a boozy trip to Lanzarote.

But their turbulent year was put behind them in 2015 when they went on holiday to Tenerife with their two daughters, Millie, 11, and Fearne, ten.

In 2016, however, another string of drink-fuelled nights out for Hatton put a final end to his 11-year relationship, after he was pictured looking worse for wear partying with other girls in his arms.

He said of Ms Dooley: ‘It’s very upsetting when you’ve been in such a long-term relationship and it comes to an end.

‘I can’t deny there are times I have found things difficult.’

He had a flurry of romances with women, ranging from Playboy models to beauty therapists, but he had most recently been in a relationship with actress Claire Sweeney.

The couple began secretly dating after starring on ITV’s Dancing on Ice together and enjoying a holiday to Tenerife.

Coronation Street actress Ms Sweeney previously explained she and Ricky had known each other for 25 years before sparks flew between them while the boxing champion said it was ‘nice’ they were able to connect following the end of their respective relationships.

But the Mail revealed in December how they had split after eight months after deciding they were ‘better off as pals’. 

Hatton’s imposing five-bedroom house, near Hyde, Tameside, is currently on the market for £1.75million.

The property has a flag of his Manchester City team on the driveway.

The gates to the house were initially open around 11am this morning but were later closed. Three plain-clothed officers entered the mansion and stayed for 15 minutes.

Tributes poured in from across the world of sport as many mourned the loss of a British great. 

Former professional boxer Richie Woodhall also said Hatton’s death was ‘such a shock’.

‘He’s recently announced he wanted to come back and have another contest, so I knew he was getting back into the gym, thought he was getting back in shape and he needed that goal because he loves the sport of boxing. 

‘I thought everything was going well for him so to hear this news, I’m gobsmacked – awful.’

Woodhall said he would never forget the ‘magical’ night in 2005 when Hatton beat Kostya Tszyu to become the IBF light-welterweight world champion in his hometown.

‘He was a very down-to-earth person, very, very approachable, that goes a long way to tell you what the man is all about,’ Woodhall added.

‘He reached the very top in his sport but you could approach him and have a cup of tea with him if you met him down the road.

‘Ricky Hatton will be remembered as one of the all-time British greats. He had a great record, he was a world champion. He gave us some great nights in Vegas, and that all-time great night for me was when he won that fight against Kosta Tszyu.

‘He has been a tremendous boxer and a tremendous advert for the game, rest in peace Ricky you will never be forgotten.’

Promoter Frank Warren also tweeted his condolences.

‘I am extremely saddened to learn of the passing of British boxing legend Ricky Hatton,’ Warren said.

‘A superbly talented fighter who inspired a generation of young boxers and fans in a way very few had done before due to both his personality and the entertainment he provided in the ring.

‘From making his debut in Widnes in 1997 to then going on to win one of the most historic fights in British boxing history against Kostya Tszyu in Manchester, Ricky will rightly go down as one of the modern greats of this sport. My deepest condolences go out to his family at this awful time.’

Barry McGuigan called Hatton a ‘spectacular fighter’. He tweeted: ‘I’m absolutely devastated to hear the news of the passing of Ricky Hatton. He was a man of the people and a spectacular fighter. A great man inside the ring and a wonderful man outside of it. RIP Ricky, my thoughts and prayers are with his family at this very difficult time.’

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards said: ‘The news is devastating, he’s such an icon. True Manchester City fan, but more importantly he was a man of the people. It feels surreal for someone so young.’

Speaking ahead of the Manchester derby later today, Roy Keane also added: ‘The guy was a warrior, he gave everything for that sport.

‘The fans thought so highly of him because he left everything in that ring, absolutely shocking news.’

Hatton was well known to staff at City, with many left distraught by the development, and there is likely to be a deeply sombre mood at the Etihad today. 

A spokesman for the club said: ‘Ricky was one of City’s most loved and revered supporters, who will always be remembered for a glittering boxing career that saw him win world titles at welterweight and light-welterweight.

‘Everyone at the Club would like to send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time. We can confirm there will be a minute’s appreciation ahead of today’s game against Manchester United.’ 

Former footballer Stan Collymore wrote: ‘Desperately sad news about the death of Ricky Hatton. Spoke incredibly candidly about his own struggles and mental health which would have helped so many with their own. Rest in peace, Ricky.’

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, a friend of Hatton’s, said: ‘Devastated. A legend, a warrior, and a great person. Thoughts are with all of Ricky’s family.’ 

A spokesman for the World Boxing Organisation said: ‘We are deeply saddened by the passing of former world champion Ricky Hatton.

‘A true warrior in the ring and a beloved figure outside of it, his legacy will forever be remembered in the history of boxing.

‘The WBO family extends our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones, friends, and fans around the world. Rest in peace, Ricky Hatton.’

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