Manchester, England (AP) – Ricky Hatton, de Former boxing world champion He came up to become one of the most popular hunters in sport, died. He was 46.
Hatton was found dead in his house in Greater Manchester, reported the British Press Association Sunday.
The police said they did not treat death as suspicious.
“Officers were called by a member of the public to attend Bowlacre Road, Hyde, Tameside, today at 6.45 am, where they found the body of a 46-year-old man,” said Greater Manchester’s police in a statement. “It is currently not considered suspicious circumstances.”
Friends of Hatton quickly paid tribute on Sunday morning.
“Today we not only lost one of the greatest boxers of Great -Britain, but a friend, a mentor, a warrior, Ricky Hatton,” posted former world champion, Amir Khan, on X.
“Rip to the legend Ricky Hatton May he ript,” said former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in an Instagram messageWith photos of the couple together. “There will only be 1 Ricky Hatton. I can’t believe this so young.”
In a moving post, his brother Matthew Hatton said “I love you Richard” On X together with photos of the brothers.
The news about Hatton’s death comes two months after the surprise announcement that he returned to boxing in December in a professional match against Eisa Al Dah in Dubai. He had not fought anymore since he lost in his career for the third time, against Vyacheslav Schenko in 2012.
Pacquiao’s tribute
Hatton won world titles in light-cycling weight and welter weight and shared the ring with the best boxers of his generation at the height of his career, including Kostya Tszyu, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
“He was not only a great hunter in the ring, but also a brave and friendly man in life,” Pacquiao placed on X. “Ricky fought bravely, not only in the ring, but in his journey through life. He really had a good fight, and we are all blessed to be part of his beautiful journey.”
Hatton rose due to amateur and domestic level and built an army of passionate fans who followed him to America for his greatest fighting.
His sober charm, as well as his tendency to win dramatically and to lose weight between fighting, leaned him to fans around the world.
“Destroyed. A legend, a warrior and a big person,” said former striker of Manchester United Wayne Rooney on X.
Hatton was open about the mental health problems that he endured by the Ring during his retirement.
“As hunters we tell ourselves that we are strong – we train, we sweat, we take hits, we get up. But sometimes the most difficult fight happens in silence, in the spirit,” Khan added to X. “Mental health is not a weakness. It belongs to being human. And we have to talk about it. We have to lean together.”
Top of the sport
The All-Action style of Hatton was added to its popularity. He built up a passionate supporters in the UK before he really announced himself on the world stage with his epic victory against Tzyu for the IBF World Super Lightweight (Light Welterweight) title in 2005.
Pound for pounds Great Tszyu had only lost twice before, but was forced to withdraw on his stool for 22,000 fans in Manchester.
Hatton later described it as his biggest victory, but it was just the start of a period in which he fought at the top of the sport, with thousands of fans who followed him to America for huge fights.
In a post on X, his former manager, Frank Warren, described him as an “excellent talented hunter who inspired a generation of young boxers and fans in a way that had done very little earlier”, adding that he “rightly falls as one of the modern greats of this sport.”
Hatton lost for the first time in his career against Mayweather at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in 2007.
After a sold -out return home in the Manchester City stadium a year later, he worked his way back to the top of the sport to take Manny Pacquiao in 2009 and lost within two rounds.
Hatton retired after that defeat, but made a remarkable comeback four years later after accumulation of weight and sustainable problems with depression and drinks, as well as accusations of drug use. While he lost to Schenko, the fact that he managed to return to the ring was seen as a personal triumph.
The British Boxing Board of Control said it was “very sad” to hear from his death.
Man City Fan
Outside the ring, Hatton was a lifelong fan of Manchester City.
The Premier League club had a minute of rating for Hatton on Sunday’s derby against Manchester United. Before the kick in the Etihad Stadium, fans from both teams stood up to cheer Hatton in a show of unity and affection for the boxer.
“Ricky was one of the most loved and respected supporters of City, who will always be remembered for a shimmering boxing career who saw him win world titles in welterweight and light-belgian,” City said in a statement. “Everyone at the club would like to send our sincere condolences to his family and friends in this difficult time.”
The announcement of the return from Hatton to the Ring came later this year after he enjoyed as a trainer as a trainer, who coached Zhanat Zhakiyanov for a world win in the world in 2017.
