Ricky Hatton, former two-weight world champion, found dead at 46
Manchester-born fighter who rose from local gyms to world titles and later spoke openly about addiction and mental health was discovered at his home; police say death is not being treated as suspicious.
Ricky Hatton, a former world champion who won titles at light-welterweight and welterweight and became one of Britain’s most popular fighters, was found dead at his home in Greater Manchester on Sunday. He was 46.
Greater Manchester Police said the death, at a property near Hyde, was not being treated as suspicious. A member of the public reported concerns at the address, and officers attended the scene. Fans left flowers, gloves and football shirts outside the house in the hours after the announcement.
Hatton, who boxed professionally from 1997, won world titles in two weight divisions and built a large following for his aggressive style and working-class persona. Known as "The Hitman," he compiled a long unbeaten run early in his career and was unbeaten in 43 fights before meeting Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2007, a bout that marked the first major defeat of his career.
Born in 1978 and raised on the Hattersley estate in Hyde, Hatton began boxing after being bullied at primary school and trained from about age 11. He turned professional at 18, won Britain’s Young Boxer of the Year in 1999 and claimed his first world title a few years later. His upset victory over Kostya Tszyu in 2005 and a homecoming win at the City of Manchester Stadium in front of 55,000 fans were among the high points of his career.
His profile rose beyond the ring. Hatton received an MBE in 2007 and was widely celebrated in Manchester and across the UK. One of the sport’s most visible British fighters, he brought large crowds to his fights and cultivated an image as a relatable, pub-going local hero.
The 2007 bout with Mayweather at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas ended in a knockout defeat for Hatton; he was floored twice and said afterward that the loss affected him deeply. "Me head fell off after the Mayweather fight," he said in later interviews. The defeat was followed by periods of heavy drinking, drug use and mental-health struggles that Hatton described publicly. Video footage after his 2009 loss to Manny Pacquiao later showed him binge drinking and behaving erratically; that period precipitated the end of his long-term relationship with Jennifer Dooley.
Hatton returned to fight at light-welterweight in 2008, defeating Juan Lazcano in Manchester, but suffered another high-profile knockout loss to Pacquiao in 2009. In the years after his retirement from competitive boxing he worked as a coach and remained involved in the sport, while also speaking openly about his battles with addiction and depression.
He is survived by his son, Campbell, from a previous relationship, and two daughters, Millie and Fearne, with former partner Jennifer Dooley. His mother, Carol, who Hatton described as an enduring influence, is widely quoted from a moment after the Mayweather fight when she told him, "You're 29 years old. You're a millionaire. You've got a lovely son, a lovely family, a lovely girlfriend. You've not been told you've got a terminal disease — it's just a boxing match." Hatton often credited his family and his hometown for his drive and public identity.
In recent months Hatton had signalled a possible return to the ring, posting training footage online and saying he planned a comeback fight in December. He also worked with younger fighters as a trainer and made public comments about mental-health awareness, describing the challenges that followed his career.
Tributes from the sports world and beyond circulated quickly. Former England striker Wayne Rooney described Hatton as "a legend, a warrior and a great person." Promoter Frank Warren called him "a British sporting icon, a man of the people," and former world champion Amir Khan said, "Sometimes the hardest fight happens in silence, in the mind."
Police have not released details on the cause of death and said inquiries are ongoing. The announcement prompted messages of condolence from fellow boxers, promoters and fans, and items were left outside Hatton’s home, named The Heartbreak, as supporters gathered to pay tribute.
Hatton’s career arc—from a working-class youth who trained in a cellar gym to a global draw in boxing, and later his highly publicised struggles—made him an emblematic figure in British sport. He repeatedly discussed the toll that life in and out of the ring took on his health and relationships, and in recent years he had spoken candidly about seeking psychiatric help and working to manage his recovery.
Further updates will be provided as official information becomes available and as the family and authorities release more details.