There was only one: Hall of Famer, British legend Hatton dies at 46
'The Hitman,' a beloved fan favorite, won world titles at junior welterweight, welterweight, was in series of major fights in 2000s
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Ricky Hatton, the Hall of Fame two-division world champion, whose massive fan base adored him for his regular guy attitude and fierce fighting style, and traveled halfway around the world by the thousands for his biggest fights, has died. He was 46.
The cause of Hatton’s death is not yet known but police found his body on Sunday at his home in Hyde, England, after they were called to perform a wellness check after he had not been seen for a few days. They said foul play is not suspected.
Hatton had a falling out with his parents, Carol and Ray, but they paid tribute to him in a statement.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved son Richard,” his parents said. “Richard was so much more than a world champion. To us he was simply ‘Richard,’ our son. A loving father, grandfather, and brother, and a true friend to many. He had a heart as big as his smile, and his kindness, humour and loyalty touched everyone who was lucky enough to know him.
“To the wider world, Richard will always be remembered as one of boxing’s greatest champions — a man who gave everything inside the ring and wore his heart on his sleeve outside of it. He inspired generations with his fighting spirit, his humility, and his love for the sport. But beyond the titles, the nights to remember, and the roar of the crowd, he remained the same down-to-earth Richard who never forgot where he came from.
“As a family, our loss is immeasurable, and words cannot truly capture the pain we feel. Yet in the midst of our grief, we have been deeply moved by the overwhelming outpouring of love and support. It has been a source of great comfort to see just how many lives Richard touched, and how widely he was admired and respected.
“At this time, we kindly ask for privacy as we come to terms with life without him. In the days and weeks ahead, we will take strength from one another and from the knowledge that Richard’s legacy — both in boxing and as a man — will continue to live on. Richard’s memory will forever remain in our hearts, in the hearts of his fans, and in the sport he loved so dearly.”
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Born on Oct. 6, 1978, Hatton compiled a 73-7 amateur record before turning professional. The pride of Manchester, known for an aggressive, swarming style and big body attack, was a phenomenon in his 2000s heyday as one of the most popular fighters ever and took part in enormous fights against Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
Revered as one of British boxing’s all-time greats, and well-liked throughout the sport, there was an outpouring of remembrances.
“I am extremely saddened to learn of the passing of British boxing legend Ricky Hatton,” said promoter Frank Warren, who promoted Hatton for most of his career. “A superbly talented fighter who inspired a generation of young boxers and fans in a way very few had done before due to both his personality and the entertainment he provided in the ring.
“From making his debut (in) Widnes in 1997 to then go on to win one of the most historic fights in British boxing history against Kostya Tszyu in Manchester, Ricky will rightly go down as one of the modern greats of this sport. My deepest condolences go out to his family at this awful time.”
Fellow Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera called Hatton his closest friend in boxing.
“Ricky was a once in a lifetime man,” Barrera said. “I am eternally grateful I got to share the ring with him (in a 2022 exhibition). May he rest in peace. He will be missed deeply. Ricky was my closest friend in boxing. I’ll miss you, my friend. There will only be one Ricky Hatton.”
Retired British star and former world champion Amir Khan wrote, “We lost not only one of Britain’s greatest boxers, but a friend, a mentor, a warrior, Ricky Hatton. Ricky, thank you for everything. For your fights, your moments of glory, your grit. Thank you for pushing us, showing us what’s possible. Rest well, Ricky. You’ll always have your place in the ring of our memories.”
Hatton (45-3, 32 KOs) fought professionally from 1997 to 2012, won world titles at junior welterweight and welterweight and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2024. But he was planning at least a one-fight comeback after 13 years in retirement, though he had taken part in the 2022 exhibition with Barrera.
In July, it was announced that Hatton would return for an eight-round middleweight bout against 46-year-old Eisa Al Dah (8-3, 4 KOs) on Dec. 2 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Al Dah’s hometown. Hatton had posted various videos on social media showing his training for the bout.
Hatton scored his career-defining victory in 2005, when he made Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu retire on his stool after the 11th round in Manchester to win the lineal and IBF junior welterweight title.
From then on “The Hitman” Hatton was involved in many more major fights. Following the Tszyu bout, Hatton knocked out WBA titlist Carlos Maussa in the ninth round to unify titles later in 2005 to cement consensus fighter of the year honors.
Hatton would then sign with promoter Artie Pelullo of Banner Promotions and a lucrative TV deal with HBO.
“I am so sad and devastated to hear about the passing of Ricky,” Pelullo said. “He was a great guy, a great friend, and I liked him very much. When I flew over to England to sign him, I got to know him and his family, his mom, dad, and brother Matthew, and Ricky was genuinely a lovable kid.”
In the first fight of the deal with Pelullo and HBO, Hatton moved up to welterweight and controversially outpointed Luis Collazo in Boston to win the WBA title.
Hatton would return to junior welterweight in 2007 to outpoint Juan Urango to regain the IBF belt and then scored a devastating fourth-round body-shot knockout of former WBC lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo. That set up a mega fight with WBC welterweight champion and pound-for-pound king Mayweather in December 2007.
Mayweather was 38-0 and Hatton, a consensus top 10 pound-for-pound fighter, was 43-0 and returning to welterweight.
It was a colossal promotion and although the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas only holds about 18,000 for a boxing event, some 30,000 Brits traveled to the city to take in the festivities. That week was like nothing the MGM Grand had ever seen in terms of a fight crowd as one of the biggest hotels in the word at one point, per urban legend, ran out of beer.
Throughout the week, as they had done at Hatton’s other fights, his fans, including a small music band with horns and drums that followed him everywhere, sang their version of the lyrics to the classic Christmas song “Winter Wonderland.”
They would break out into song constantly.
There’s only one Ricky Hatton
One Ricky Hatton
Walking along, singing a song
Walking in a Hatton wonderland
Mayweather dominated the fight and eventually knocked him down twice in the 10th round for the knockout victory.
Five months later Hatton returned as a junior welterweight for a Manchester homecoming at the City of Manchester Stadium, where he routed contender Juan Lazcano and then traveled back to Las Vegas and stopped former titlist Paulie Malignaggi in the 11th round. That was Hatton’s first fight under the guidance of trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. after an acrimonious split from career-long trainer Billy Graham.
“Woke up to the sad news of my old friend and foe Ricky Hatton having passed away,” Malignaggi posted to social media. “To say I'm shocked would be an understatement. I had just spoken to him a couple of months ago and he seemed in great spirits. Extremely sad. Sending condolences to all his family and loved ones.”
Still the lineal junior welterweight champion, Hatton next defended his crown in a mega fight with Pacquiao in May 2009 at the MGM Grand. As rough as the knockout loss was to Mayweather this one was much worse. Pacquiao knocked Hatton down twice in the first round and then spectacularly knocked him out cold in highlight-reel fashion in the second round.
"We shared unforgettable moments in boxing history and I will always honor the respect and sportsmanship he showed," Pacquiao posted. “Ricky fought bravely, not just in the ring, but in his journey through life. He truly had a good fight, and we are all blessed to have been part of his wonderful journey.”
Hatton retired after the Pacquiao loss. He made no secret of his drug, alcohol and mental health issues, but he remained involved in boxing, promoting events through his Hatton Promotions and training fighters.
Hatton ended a 3½-year retirement in November 2012 when former WBA welterweight titlist Vyacheslav Senchenko traveled to Manchester to face Hatton, who fought well and was leading on all three scorecards when Senchenko knocked him out with a body shot in the waning seconds of the ninth round. After the bout Hatton announced his second retirement.
His son, Campbell Hatton, who was a young boy when Ricky had his championship runs, turned pro in 2017 and went 14-2 before retiring earlier this year. Ricky was a regular at ringside for his fights but left the training to his brother, former pro fighter Matthew Hatton.
It took time for Hatton to finally be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2024, 12 years after his retirement. He was thrilled by the honor.
“You never think of when you lace the gloves on at 10 years old that you’ll end up in the Hall of Fame with some of the great fighters already there,” Hatton said when his election was announced. “I’m a bit speechless. There’s no greater honor. I’m delighted.”
Hatton is survived by son Campbell, 24; daughters Fearne, 13, and Millie, 12; granddaughter Lyla, 7; brother Matthew and his parents, Carol and Ray.
Remembering Ricky
I covered six of Hatton’s fights in person and got a chance to interview him many times and to know him a bit over the years. Last time we were in touch was in July, when we shared a few direct messages on X about his planned comeback fight in December. On Sunday night, after I got home from the Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford fight in Las Vegas, I shared my thoughts on Ricky’s passing and his career on our podcast. That segment is also a video on the YouTube channel. Watch it here:
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That mayweather fight was before I could afford the big fights in Vegas but we went anyway and watched on the closed circuit at mgm grand for 100 bucks. That weekend was something else. One of my all time great boxing memories was leaping out of the cab at the airport because Bert Sugar was smoking a cigarette on the curb. I joined him and he sang that song while we smoked.
Dan, your obituaries are the only ones worth reading. It’s a double edged sword as they are seemingly coming too frequently. Thank you for doing The Hitman justice.