Ricky Hatton remembered as 'Manchester legend' after former world champion found dead at 46
Former training partner recalls Hatton knocking out opponents as a teen; colleagues say the tight-knit boxing community has been left shocked
Former world light-welterweight champion Ricky Hatton has died at the age of 46, Greater Manchester Police said, prompting an outpouring of tributes from the boxing community and former training partners who described him as a "Manchester legend." Hatton was found at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester, and his death was confirmed by police; no cause has been disclosed.
Those who knew Hatton from his earliest days in local gyms said the former world champion remained deeply connected to amateur boxing in the city. Thomas McDonagh, who trained with Hatton as a boy and helps run Collyhurst and Moston Boxing Club, said Hatton stood out even as a child.
"I'd known Ricky since I was about 10 or 11," McDonagh told BBC Radio Manchester. "Even as a 12, 13, 14-year-old, he was knocking everyone out. As a kid he was an unbelievable fighter, he was a superstar." He said Hatton continued to visit and support the Collyhurst and Moston club, attending amateur shows, fundraising for the venue and making time to speak with young boxers.
Former professional boxer and broadcaster Stacey Copeland, who saw Hatton training as recently as Thursday, described him as approachable and influential, especially to younger fighters. Copeland said Hatton had been discussing a niggling elbow injury with a coach, Blaine, who had been preparing him for a proposed comeback fight in Dubai.
"He was meant to go out and sign the contract this week so to say it was an enormous shock is an understatement," Copeland told BBC Radio Manchester. "He always felt like one of us, he was an idol for many youngsters. Belts, championships, they're all important but the impact he had on people, the way he inspired them and the passionate following he had — that's what mattered to him."
Hatton rose from provincial gyms in Greater Manchester to global prominence in the late 1990s and 2000s, claiming world titles and cultivating a large, vocal following. Colleagues and fans noted his ability to draw large audiences; Copeland recalled how he had taken tens of thousands of supporters to high-profile fights in Las Vegas.
Friends and former teammates said Hatton maintained strong ties with the Manchester boxing scene even after achieving international success. McDonagh said Hatton "came to the gym all the time, he'd just got time for everyone" and that he had been involved with local fundraising efforts.
Tributes were left outside Hatton's home in Hyde, and messages of condolence and remembrance have proliferated across social media and within boxing circles. Many reflected on his accessibility to fans and amateurs, the ferocity of his fighting style in his prime, and the enthusiasm he generated among young boxers who sought to emulate him.
Hatton's reported plans for a comeback drew attention in recent weeks. Trainers and associates said he had been preparing for a return to the ring in Dubai, an effort that included discussions about a contract and management of a minor elbow complaint. Copeland said those preparations made the news of his death particularly unexpected.
The boxing community described itself as close-knit in the wake of the news. "We are a tight-knit community, he was one of us and we have lost one of our own," Copeland said. McDonagh added that the loss was "quite hard to take" and that Hatton had been an influential figure in Greater Manchester since childhood.
Greater Manchester Police have confirmed the death but gave no further details about the circumstances. There was no immediate indication of any criminal element and no public announcement of a cause of death at the time of the reports.
Hatton's career included multiple domestic and international titles and memorable bouts that cemented his popularity in Britain and among global boxing fans. The response from former opponents, promoters and local clubs in the hours after his death underscored his enduring presence in the sport and the void his passing has left for those who trained and worked alongside him.
Friends and colleagues said arrangements and further tributes were expected to be announced in the coming days as the local boxing community and Hatton's supporters mourned.
