Ricky Hatton expressed his enthusiasm for his anticipated return to the boxing ring in a poignant interview before news of the British sports legend’s passing. The former boxer, aged 46, was discovered at his residence in Hyde, Greater Manchester, where authorities have established a police cordon.
Authorities from the Greater Manchester Police disclosed that a body was located at Hatton’s residence, emphasizing that the incident was not deemed suspicious. A spokesperson for the GMP stated, “A body was found at an address on Bowlacre Road in Gee Cross at 6:45 am today, Sunday, September 14. The circumstances surrounding the death are not suspicious.”
Hatton had been gearing up for a comeback fight in December, set to face Eisa Al Dah, Dubai’s first professional boxer. This match would have marked his first professional bout in 13 years, following his retirement post a defeat by Vyachslav Senchenko in Manchester back in 2012.
The encounter with the Ukrainian boxer came after a three-and-a-half-year hiatus following Hatton’s initial retirement subsequent to a knockout loss to Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas. Hatton, who would have celebrated his 47th birthday in October, re-entered the boxing scene in 2022, engaging in an eight-round exhibition match against the renowned Marco Antonio Barrera.
The former welterweight and light-welterweight world champion had openly discussed his excitement about the planned fight earlier in the summer, citing his eagerness to rejoin the professional ranks. In a livestream announcement, Hatton acknowledged an eye injury preventing his physical presence at the event but expressed anticipation for the upcoming match.
Hatton had been candid about his battles with depression and addiction, highlighting the positive impact he had on individuals facing similar struggles. In an exclusive interview with SunSport, he shared, “It inspired a lot of people, you know, for me to get in shape again at the age I’m at. Especially bearing in mind all my problems I’ve had personally with mental health and stuff like that. It was nice for so many people to come up to me and go, ‘Oh, I’ve always struggled with my weight and to see you get it off at your age.'”
With an impressive 45-3 record over his 15-year boxing career, Hatton’s defining moment came in 2005 when he clinched the IBF and The Ring light-welterweight titles by defeating Kostya Tszyu. Despite subsequent victories defending those titles, his attempt to secure the WBC and The Ring welterweight championship against Floyd Mayweather ended in a TKO defeat, marking a significant challenge in his career.