Boxing Legend Ricky Hatton Dies at 46, Months After Announcing Comeback

|By Babatunji Wusu

Former boxing world champion Ricky Hatton has died at the age of 46, just two months after declaring he would return to the ring following a 13-year absence.

Police confirmed that Hatton, famously nicknamed “The Hitman”, was found dead early Sunday at his home in Hyde, northwest England. Greater Manchester Police said officers responded to a call at 6:45 a.m. and discovered the body of a 46-year-old man. The force stressed that his death is not being treated as suspicious.

Hatton, whose relentless style and charisma won him legions of fans, was one of Britain’s most celebrated fighters. He captured multiple light-welterweight world titles and one at welterweight, building an impressive record of 45 wins from 48 professional bouts after making his debut in 1997.

He sealed memorable victories over Kostya Tszyu and Jose Luis Castillo, before suffering high-profile defeats to Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. Though he briefly returned in 2012, losing to Vyacheslav Senchenko, Hatton later found success as a trainer, guiding Zhanat Zhakiyanov to a world bantamweight crown in 2017.

Beyond the ring, Hatton was candid about his struggles with mental health after retirement. Despite these battles, he continued to stay connected to boxing, including a 2022 exhibition bout with Marco Antonio Barrera. In July this year, he surprised fans by announcing a professional comeback fight against Eisa Al Dah, scheduled for December in Dubai.

Hatton leaves behind a legacy as a warrior in the ring and a beloved figure in British sport.