Ricky Hatton, former world boxing champion, dies at 46

[ad_1] MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Ricky Hatton, the former boxing world champion who rose to develop into probably the most widespread fighters within the sport, has died. He was 46.

Hatton was discovered useless at his residence in Higher Manchester, Britain’s Press Affiliation reported Sunday.

Police mentioned they weren't treating the dying as suspicious.

“Officers have been known as by a member of the general public to attend Bowlacre Street, Hyde, Tameside, at 6:45 a.m. at this time the place they discovered the physique of a 46-year-old man,” Higher Manchester Police mentioned in an announcement. “There should not presently believed to be any suspicious circumstances.”

Mates of Hatton have been fast to pay tribute Sunday morning.

“At this time we misplaced not solely one in every of Britain’s best boxers, however a pal, a mentor, a warrior, Ricky Hatton,” former world champion, Amir Khan, posted on X.

“Rip to the legend Ricky Hatton might he rip,” former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury mentioned in an Instagram post , with pictures of the pair collectively. “There'll solely ever be 1 Ricky Hatton. can’t imagine this so younger.”

In a poignant put up, his brother Matthew Hatton mentioned “I love you Richard” on X together with pictures of the brothers.

Information of Hatton’s dying comes two months after the shock announcement he would make a return to boxing in December in an expert bout towards Eisa Al Dah in Dubai.

He hadn’t fought since shedding for the third time in his profession, towards Vyacheslav Senchenko in 2012.

Pacquiao’s tribute Hatton gained world titles at light-welterweight and welterweight and on the top of his profession shared the ring with the perfect boxers of his era together with Kostya Tszyu, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

“He was not solely an incredible fighter contained in the ring but in addition a courageous and sort man in life,” Pacquiao posted on X. “Ricky fought bravely, not simply within the ring, however in his journey by means of life. He really had a great battle, and we're all blessed to have been a part of his great journey.”

Hatton rose by means of beginner and home ranges, build up a military of passionate followers that adopted him to America for his largest fights.

His down-to-earth allure, in addition to his tendency to dramatically achieve and drop a few pounds between fights, endeared him to followers internationally.

“Devastated. A legend, a warrior, and an incredible individual,” mentioned former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney on X.

Hatton was open in regards to the psychological well being points he endured upon his retirement from the ring.

“As fighters, we inform ourselves we’re sturdy — we prepare, we sweat, we take hits, we stand up. However typically the toughest battle occurs in silence, within the thoughts,” Khan added on X. “Psychological well being isn’t weak spot. It’s a part of being human. And we should speak about it. We should attain out. We should lean on one another.”

High of the game Hatton’s all-action type added to his recognition. He constructed up a passionate following within the UK earlier than really asserting himself on the world stage along with his epic victory towards Tszyu for the IBF world tremendous light-weight (gentle welterweight) title in 2005.

Pound for pound nice Tszyu had solely misplaced twice earlier than, however was pressured to retire on his stool in entrance of twenty-two,000 followers in Manchester.

Hatton later described it as his best win but it surely was simply the beginning of a interval when he fought on the high of the game, with hundreds of followers following him to America for big fights.

In a put up on X, his former supervisor, Frank Warren, described him as a “beautifully proficient fighter who impressed a era of younger boxers and followers in a manner only a few had completed earlier than,” including he'll “rightly go down as one of many trendy greats of this sport.”

Hatton misplaced for the primary time in his profession towards Mayweather on the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in 2007.

After a offered out homecoming at Manchester Metropolis’s stadium a yr later, he labored his manner again to the highest of the game to tackle Manny Pacquiao in 2009, shedding inside two rounds.

Hatton retired after that defeat, however made a exceptional comeback 4 years later after piling on weight and enduring points with melancholy and ingesting, in addition to allegations of drug use.

Whereas he misplaced to Senchenko, the actual fact he managed to return to the ring was seen as a private triumph.

The British Boxing Board of Management mentioned it was “very saddened” to listen to of his passing.

Man Metropolis fan Exterior of the ring, Hatton was a lifelong fan of Manchester Metropolis.

The Premier League club had a minute’s appreciation for Hatton at Sunday’s derby against Manchester United. Earlier than kickoff on the Etihad Stadium, followers from each groups rose to applaud Hatton in a present of unity and affection for the boxer.

“Ricky was one in every of Metropolis’s most cherished and revered supporters, who will at all times be remembered for a glittering boxing profession that noticed him win world titles at welterweight and light-welterweight,” Metropolis mentioned in an announcement. “Everybody on the Membership wish to ship our heartfelt condolences to his household and mates at this troublesome time.”

The announcement of Hatton’s return to the ring later this yr got here after he had loved success as a coach, teaching Zhanat Zhakiyanov to a world bantamweight title win in 2017.

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AP boxing: https://apnews.com/hub/boxing

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