Ricky Hatton RIP newspaper headlines
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Celebrating the Life & Career of Ricky Hatton – A British Boxing Icon

The world of boxing was left saddened and shocked on 14th September 2025 as the ever-popular Ricky Hatton was found dead at his home in Greater Manchester. Hatton, known as “the Hitman” and “the People’s Champion”, was just 46 years old at the time of his death, and tributes soon flooded in from figures in boxing and beyond.

In this article, we’ll look back at Hatton’s life and glittering career in the ring, and we’ll bring details of some of the tributes that have been paid by the likes of Tyson Fury, Manny Pacquiao and many more.

Who Was Ricky Hatton?

Hatton in 2008
Harry (Howard) Potts via Flickr

Born in Stockport on 6th October 1978, Richard John Hatton’s early years were spent on a council estate near Hyde, Greater Manchester. Despite his father and grandfather having played football for Rochdale, Ricky Hatton turned to boxing at a young age and developed the skill and power to compete at amateur level. Before turning professional, Hatton won seven British titles and competed at the 1996 AIBA Youth World Championship, where he went out in the semi-final after a very controversial decision (and – it later transpired – a bribed judge!).

It wasn’t long before Hatton decided he’d be better off going pro, and his first professional fight came on 11th September 1997 when he won in the first round (by TKO) against Colin McAuley at Widnes Leisure Centre. That came at light welterweight, where he stayed for many years, posting win after win and picking up several titles, including the WBO Inter-Continental light-welterweight title and the British light welterweight title, before he got his first shot at a world title.

Light Welterweight World Titles

Hatton training in 2006
Loura Conerney via Wikipedia

Having won 38 professional fights at light welterweight (also known as junior welterweight), Hatton was granted a shot at the IBF and The Ring titles against Kostya Tszyu. The Russian-born, Aussie fighter – known as the Thunder from Down Under – was highly regarded and had only faced defeat once. Hatton was very much the underdog going into the bout, but the Manchester fighter came out swinging, taking the fight to the more experienced boxer.

Hatton’s tactics paid dividends, and he ground his opponent down so much that Tszyu failed to get back into the ring for the final round, and his trainer threw in the towel. The victory gave Hatton his first recognised world title, but he didn’t stop there. Within six months, Hatton would be the undisputed world champion at that weight division.

In his next fight, Hatton defeated Carlos Maussa by knockout in the ninth round, adding the WBA light welterweight title to the two belts he already held. It was his 40th fight and his 40th win, and in December 2005, Hatton was chosen as the Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year.

Yo-Yoing Between Welterweight and Light Welterweight


For the remainder of his career in the ring, Hatton moved between light welterweight and welterweight. He won the WBA welterweight title in January 2007 against Luis Collazo before dropping back to light welterweight to win the IBF and IBO belts in that division. After another victory at the lighter division (against José Luis Castillo to win the vacant WBC light welterweight title), Hatton once again increased his weight to face one of the legends of the sport: Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The bout took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in the United States, and the WBC and The Ring welterweight belts were on the line. Unfortunately for Hatton, Mayweather was just too good and the Brit lost by TKO in the 10th round. There was no shame in that, however, as Mayweather ended his career having won all 50 of his professional bouts and won 15 major world titles across five different weight divisions. It was Hatton’s first defeat as a professional.

Hatton dropped back down to light welterweight for his next two bouts, both of which he won, including against the highly rated Paulie Malignaggi. Then, on 2nd May 2009, he faced another true legend of the sport, Manny Pacquiao. Fresh from defeating Oscar De La Hoya, the Filipino made short work of the Hitman and won by knockout in the second round. It proved to be Hatton’s first loss at light welterweight and prompted suggestions that his career was nearing its end.

The People’s Champion certainly appeared to have fought his last bout, but then three years later, he announced a comeback. His opponent was Ukrainian fighter Vyacheslav Senchenko, who had only lost one of his professional bouts at that point (to Paulie Malignaggi). Unfortunately for Hatton, the years had caught up with him, and he lost by knockout in the ninth round. After the fight, Hatton gave an honest assessment: “I needed one more fight to see if I had still got it – and I haven’t. I found out tonight it isn’t there no more.”

Tributes to Hatton from Boxing and Beyond


Tributes came in from far and wide after Hatton’s untimely passing was announced. British heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury called Hatton a “legend”, while the BBC’s boxing correspondent Steve Bunce said, “He fought with every part of his soul and fibre. If he won there was nothing left, and if he lost there was nothing left. He gave everything in victory and defeat.”

One of the few who got the better of Hatton in the ring, Manny Pacquiao called the Hitman, “a great fighter inside the ring but also a brave and kind man in life”. He went on, “Ricky fought bravely, not just in the ring, but in his journey through life. He truly had a good fight, and we are all blessed to have been part of his wonderful journey.” Meanwhile, fellow Manchester City fan and Oasis singer Liam Gallagher said on social media: “Absolutely devastated to hear the news about Ricky Hatton. It was an absolute honour to know him and carry his belts. RIP champ. Live forever.”

Despite being well into his 40s, Hatton was actually in training for another comeback at the time of his death. No official cause of death has been given, but the police said there were no suspicious circumstances. We won’t speculate on that, but Hatton had spoken in the past of his struggles with mental health and addiction. Whatever the circumstances, Hatton’s death is a sad loss of a much-loved sportsman, and he will be missed by many in the sport and beyond.

Boxing