Ricky Hatton dies aged 46: British boxing great an...

Ricky Hatton has died aged 46.

Hatton was discovered lifeless at his dwelling in Hyde on Sunday morning. Larger Manchester Police mentioned they aren’t treating the dying as suspicious.

A police spokesperson mentioned: “Officers had been referred to as by a member of the general public to attend Bowlacre Highway, Hyde, Tameside, at 6.45am right now the place they discovered the physique of a 46-year-old man. There should not presently believed to be any suspicious circumstances.”

Hatton held a number of world championships at light-welterweight and one at welterweight throughout a 15-year skilled profession.

The British boxing nice had been attributable to make a comeback to the ring in December.

Hatton’s stellar profession included epic fights in opposition to Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

Tributes for Hatton

Hatton’s profession abstract

Hatton held a number of world championships within the light-welterweight and welterweight divisions throughout his boxing profession which spanned from 1997 to 2012.

He held the WBU title between 2001 and 2004 – making 15 profitable defences of that title, which adopted the British light-welterweight title he received in 2000.

Hatton then grew to become a unified light-welterweight champion in 2005, which represented the peak of his profession. He received the IBF, Ring and lineal titles by beating Kostya Tszyu that 12 months, earlier than beating Carlos Maussa to say the WBA title.

He made his welterweight debut the next 12 months, claiming the WBA title by defeating Luis Collazo. After profitable one other IBF light-welterweight title in 2007, he suffered his first profession defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jr.

He then misplaced his light-welterweight titles to Manny Pacquiao in 2009. Hatton retired in 2011 however made a comeback in 2012, the place he was overwhelmed by Vyacheslav Senchenko. He was attributable to make a comeback later this 12 months.

‘A outstanding human being who captured the general public’s creativeness’

Sky Sports activities’ Craig Slater mentioned British sport has misplaced somebody who actually captured the creativeness of the boxing public.

“He was a outstanding human being,” he mentioned. “I had the nice pleasure of understanding him as a buddy. I acquired to know him earlier than he turned skilled and that is devastating information for all of us that knew him.

“His was with out query one of many nice careers in British boxing. He had some nights which had been with out evaluate in British boxing historical past which took the game to new heights and reached new audiences. He was a one-off.

“We are able to discuss in regards to the file and the variety of followers that adopted him around the globe however this was a beloved son, father and buddy to so many individuals who did a lot good.

“What was nice about him was that he was so unassuming, modest, quiet and there was a shy facet to him as nicely. He wasn’t somebody who revelled within the highlight.

“In field workplace phrases and by way of capturing the general public’s creativeness, Ricky Hatton did that greater than anybody else within the final half century in British boxing.”

‘An icon – and a person of the folks’

Micah Richards was devastated to listen to of Hatton’s tragic passing.

He mentioned: “The information is devastating. I used to be taken again to be sincere. He’s such an icon, a British icon, boxing and sport. A real Manchester Metropolis fan however most significantly, he was a person of the folks.

“He was the nicest man ever. I went to his gymnasium and I used to be a bit nervous, I do not know something about boxing, he took his time [with me].

“For him to take the effort and time. He was a deep individual, very deep. The information is devastating. It feels surreal. Somebody so younger, it’s devastating.”

‘He left the whole lot within the ring – that is why followers beloved him’

Roy Keane has mentioned British boxing legend Ricky Hatton was a “warrior” after his passing on the age of 46.

“The man was a warrior, that is why followers beloved to look at him within the ring. He gave the whole lot to that sport,” Keane mentioned.

“They thought so extremely of him and he left the whole lot within the ring. Completely surprising information.”

‘One of many final working-class heroes’

Sky Sports activities Boxing’s Andy Scott mentioned Ricky Hatton’s capacity to attach with the followers made him a singular expertise.

“No matter capability you labored with Ricky in, he handled all people the identical,” he mentioned. “He held an open coaching session in Hyde earlier than the Pacquiao struggle and I went alongside not likely understanding what I used to be doing and he made you’re feeling 1,000,000 {dollars}.

“He gave you his time and he was essentially the most hilarious man, an actual working man’s hero.

“He was one of many final working-class heroes, to go from the place he got here from to realize what he achieved, that resonated with so many various folks. He introduced the gang into it with the power he generated.”