Ricky Hatton's death prompts tributes as father Ray struggles, says Phil Taylor

Ricky Hatton's death has been confirmed by his family, and police say the death is not being treated as suspicious. The Stockport-born former boxing champion was found at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester, last Sunday. Mourners from across the sporting world have paid tribute to Hatton, a fighter who rose to the pinnacle of boxing in the early 2000s and became a global name.

A family statement described Hatton as a loving father, grandfather, and brother, and a true friend to many. It said he would be remembered as one of boxing's greatest champions who gave everything inside the ring and wore his heart on his sleeve outside of it. The statement asked supporters to respect the family's privacy as they grieve.

Phil Taylor, a long-time friend and fellow sports figure, told The Sun that Ray Hatton is broken-hearted and gutted by the loss. Taylor said Ray texted him the night before because he had not been on his phone for several days, and that he expects to visit next week. 'It's breaking his heart. I'm absolutely devastated, to be honest,' Taylor said.

Taylor, who could not always attend Hatton's peak fights because of his own darts commitments, described the close bond between Hatton and his father. He recalled how Hatton's discipline was evident in training and how Ray supported him through camps. He offered a picture of a family that kept training on track through small routines and daily checks that helped Hatton stay focused on the goals ahead.

Taylor also shared an anecdote describing a typical training day. He recalled that after finding time and date for a fight, Ricky could switch into a monk-like mindset; when he lived with his mum and dad, there was a pub nearby and a McDonald's at the top of the road, but he would train through hunger and push for extra miles, with Ray offering quiet reassurance rather than indulgence. The point, Taylor suggested, was that discipline and family support were central to Hatton's development as a fighter who could mix power with a boxer's precision.

Hatton's career took him to the top of the sport and earned him fans around the world for his willingness to take on the sport's biggest names. The reporting surrounding his death underscores how deeply his story resonated beyond boxing. In the wake of the tragedy, the sporting community has offered condolences and messages of respect to Hatton's family, while authorities continue to handle the formal processes associated with a death investigation.

Police officials asked for privacy as Hatton's family processes their grief, and no additional details about the investigation or autopsy have been released.