Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton has left us. Yesterday, the boxing world entered a new era-the Terence Crawford era. Climbing up two weight classes, the Nebraskan outboxed and outmaneuvered Canelo Alvarez and became the first male three-division undisputed champion. Hours later, diehards witnessed another masterclass in faraway Japan. At Nagoya’s new IG Arena, Naoya ‘The Monster’ Inoue taught Murodjon ‘MJ’ Akhmadaliev a boxing lesson. But just as the world was soaking in the glory of Crawford and Inoue, sad news arrived. Ricky Hatton, 46, was no more.

The former two-division champion died at his home in Greater Manchester. On October 6, he would have turned 47. Amid happiness and rejoicing, when boxing fanatics cheered two outstanding pound-for-pound greats, a pall of gloom descended. Though remembered for wins over Kostya Tszyu and José Luis Castillo and the fights against Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, it was Ricky Hatton’s unassuming and down-to-earth personality that endeared him to fans worldwide. The English icon’s tragic passing has left a void that will never be filled. Here’s a look at the life of a great fighter who, despite personal struggles, remained an inspiration.

The Making of The Hitman

What set Ricky Hatton apart from his peers was that he always stayed grounded and attached to his roots. Born Richard John Hatton, he first pursued football. But at 14, his uncles took him to watch the rematch between Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank. And everything changed.

After school, Hatton joined the family’s carpet business. But the call of the sweet science was too strong to resist. As an amateur, he bagged seven British titles before a controversy at the AIBA championship pushed him to turn professional.

Trainer Billy Graham used to recall Ricky Hatton’s ferocity in the ring as he honed his craft.

Rise of The Hitman

On September 11, 1997, roughly a year after Floyd Mayweather’s debut, Hatton fought for the first time at Kingsway Leisure Centre in Widnes. Three months later, he appeared on Prince Naseem Hamed’s undercard at Madison Square Garden. By February 1999, he had won the Central Area light welterweight title.

In May, he added the WBO intercontinental belt, defending it until 2000. That September, he defeated Giuseppe Lauri to claim the WBA belt. A month later, he became the British light welterweight champion. On March 26, 2001, he captured the now-defunct WBU title and defended it for the next three years.

His breakthrough came on June 4, 2005, when he fought Kostya Tszyu for the IBF and Ring light welterweight titles. In November, he knocked out Carlos Maussa, added the WBA (Unified) belt, and became unified champion.

Raising the bar, he moved up to 147 pounds and beat Luis Collazo for the WBA welterweight title. But he soon returned to 140, defending his belts with a knockout win over José Luis Castillo in June 2007. His second run at welterweight brought him face-to-face with Floyd Mayweather. Thousands of fans from England traveled to Las Vegas, but Hatton fell by 10th-round TKO. He regrouped, defeating Juan Lazcano and Paulie Malignaggi in IBO and Ring title defenses. But Manny Pacquiao ended his run with a brutal second-round stoppage in May 2009 in Las Vegas.

After more than three years away, Hatton returned against Vyacheslav Senchenko. The fight ended in another loss, and Hatton finally hung up the gloves.

After the final bell

From training in a humble gym converted from a factory, Hatton had reached the heights of boxing. But the losses to Mayweather and Pacquiao, plus personal struggles, including fallouts with his parents and longtime trainer Billy Graham, took a toll.

“I had no boxing. My career was over. I’d fallen out with my parents. I’d fallen out with my trainer, Billy Graham. That’s when it got to rock bottom,” he recalled during an interview. “I just went out on the warpath. It was horrible for people to see.” He turned to drinking and gained weight.

Later, Hatton found a new path as a trainer. He worked with Nathan Gorman and Tommy Fury and joined Tyson Fury‘s corner for his first fight against Deontay Wilder. Through Hatton Promotions, he managed fighters including Lucas Browne, Zhanat Zhakiyanov, and Matty Askin.

On the personal front, he lived with his girlfriend Jennifer Dooley, with whom he had two daughters. He also had a son, Campbell Hatton, from a previous relationship. Campbell followed in his footsteps into professional boxing before retiring this year.

What Ricky Hatton leaves behind

Hatton emerged when British boxing was in transition. With Chris Eubank, Nigel Benn, and Frank Bruno retired, only Prince Naseem Hamed and Lennox Lewis carried the flag. By 2002, Hamed had retired, and a year later, Lewis did too.

Into that void stepped Ricky Hatton. His old-school, aggressive style earned him the nickname ‘The Hitman’ and a legion of fans. His friendly, approachable nature sealed the bond. The atmosphere at the MEN Arena for the Tszyu fight was electric. The build-up to Mayweather still gives goosebumps.

Years ago, as he prepared for the WBO super middleweight bout against Shefat Isufi, Billie Joe Saunders spoke about having Ricky Hatton in his corner: “Ricky is a real down-to-earth fella, and he was one of my idols growing up; you can be in nothing but awe of him,” he stated before adding, “In this camp already he has picked out a couple of pointers for me, and I have taken them on board. He’s like a senior member of the team because he has been there and done it.”

For many a young fighter who subsequently charted out their own careers and legacies, it was Ricky Hatton who paved the way. “I went to his training camp a couple of times… what motivated me was how hard he trained. That pushed me more,” while paying his tributes, said former world champion and Olympic silver medalist Amir Khan.

It’s a resume hard to match.

Always the People’s Champ

Hatton’s professional career may have been shorter than some of his contemporaries, but his impact was lasting. Former boxer Spencer Oliver put it best: “We’ll never get a fighter like that; Ricky Hatton was one of a kind. A true boxing great.”

Both Mayweather and Pacquiao needed a fighter of Hatton’s stature to legitimize their victories. Without the gallant Hitman, those wins lack context.

If one is searching for what Ricky Hatton meant to people, they need only look at the heartfelt tributes. From fighters on his undercard to Liam Gallagher of Oasis, who once posed with Hatton’s belt, all mourn his passing.

“Absolutely devastated to hear the news about RICKY HATTON. It was an absolute honor to know him and carry his belts. RIP CHAMP LIVE FOREVER LG x,” wrote the Oasis frontman.

For people like Ricky Hatton, Maya Angelou had famously quipped, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” While his ring achievements will endure, it is the man himself that people, and generations to come, will remember and love.

There’s only one…Ricky Hatton.

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