Ricky Hatton, Former World Champion Boxer, Found Dead at 46

Ricky Hatton, the British former world champion known as "The Hitman," was found dead at his home in Greater Manchester on Sunday morning, authorities and friends said. He was 46. Police said the death was not being treated as suspicious and that officers were working with Hatton’s family.

Hatton was discovered at about 6:45 a.m. after he failed to attend a gym session and missed a fight he had been expected to watch over the weekend, people close to him said. The boxer’s family and friends gathered at the scene as a police cordon remained in place outside his home.

Hatton rose from the Hattersley estate near Manchester to become one of Britain’s most popular fighters, holding multiple domestic and world titles in a professional career that ran from 1997 to 2012. He won 45 of 48 professional fights and was celebrated for victories over Kostya Tszyu and Jose Luis Castillo, and for carrying large sections of the British public in major venues including Las Vegas and Manchester.

His career included a high-profile loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in December 2007 and a second-round knockout defeat to Manny Pacquiao in May 2009, a loss that Hatton later said precipitated a prolonged personal struggle.

Hatton had been candid about his battles with mental health and addiction in years since leaving the ring. In a 2022 interview with the BBC he described "hitting rock bottom" after the defeat by Pacquiao, saying he had been suicidal and made several attempts on his life. "I was suicidal. I tried killing myself several times," he told the broadcaster. He added that he considered drinking and taking drugs to death during that period.

Hatton’s openness about his struggles featured prominently in a 2023 personal documentary that traced his ascent from local amateur boxing to the global stage, and his subsequent periods of depression, addiction and estrangement from family and his long-time trainer.

In recent weeks Hatton appeared to be preparing for a return to the ring. He had announced an exhibition fight scheduled for Dec. 2 in Dubai against Eisa Al Dah and shared footage of training sessions days before his death. Promoters and associates said Hatton had continued to train and that the gym had been a stabilizing influence in his life.

Tributes poured in from former opponents, boxers, entertainers and friends. Manny Pacquiao said he was "deeply saddened," calling Hatton a "brave and kind man." Former world champion Amir Khan described the loss as the passing of "not only one of Britain's greatest boxers, but a friend, a mentor, a warrior." Tyson Fury posted photographs and a brief message calling Hatton a "legend." Wayne Rooney recalled carrying Hatton’s belt into the ring in Las Vegas and said Hatton had "captured the nation." Public figures including David Beckham, Liam Gallagher, Ray Winstone and broadcaster Paddy McGuinness shared condolences.

Boxing pundit Steve Bunce reflected on Hatton’s impact on the sport, noting his ability to fill arenas in Manchester and beyond and saying Hatton had been "the most popular British boxer in history" even if he did not claim to be the best. Bunce told BBC Radio 5 Live that in recent weeks Hatton appeared to be in a much better place and that his planned exhibition had given him renewed purpose.

Hatton’s life and career were marked by dramatic highs and lows. He won multiple titles at light-welterweight and welterweight, earned the Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year award and was awarded an MBE. He remained a prominent public figure after his retirement, working in training and appearing at events. Hatton’s son, Campbell, retired from boxing earlier this year and his two daughters, Millie and Fearne, survive him.

Manchester’s football clubs and supporters joined tributes. Players and fans of Manchester City and Manchester United observed a minute’s applause ahead of a derby match, and local figures called for memorials and tributes to the fighter who publicly declared his love for Manchester City.

Police said they were liaising with Hatton’s family about arrangements and any public tributes. Further details about the circumstances of his death were not released on Sunday as authorities completed initial inquiries.

Hatton’s family, friends and the wider boxing community mourned a figure who combined sporting success with a candid account of personal struggle, and whose career left a lasting mark on British boxing.