Most fight camps are very private, but Ricky Hatton didn’t believe in that. In December 2007, he had about two dozen people, including The Undertaker of WWE, lurking around ringside as he prepared for his biggest match then. It was against Floyd Mayweather. “At-ta boy, Ric-ky!” a teenager hollered with a heavy Manchester accent. Hatton, who was pacing in the ring, stopped, poured water in his mouth, winked at the lad, and proceeded to spit the liquid at the back of a bystander. It wasn’t a simple onlooker, though. It was a British boxing commissioner, but the crowd went crazy.

More than 30,000 fans travelled to Las Vegas to watch that fight, but ‘The Hitman’ lost. That was his first pro defeat… Years later, he also lost to Manny Pacquiao, Vyacheslav Senchenko and decided to retire in 2012. He was scheduled to make a comeback in December 2025, but was found dead at home in Greater Manchester. He was 46.

No cause of death has been shared, but the Greater Manchester Police confirmed on Sunday that his body was discovered in his home after a call from a neighbor. However, the death “is not being treated as suspicious.” As the news went viral online, many fans shared their condolences, including the NBA’s Karl-Anthony Towns. “RIP TO A LEGEND,” he wrote on his Instagram story. While Towns is a known basketball player, he loves incorporating boxing and sparring into his fitness routine. In fact, he not only regularly watches boxing matches but also tweets about them.

Born on October 6, 1978, Hatton, who was a stocky kid with blond and spiky hair, was always comfortable using his fists when he had to enforce playground rules. He wasn’t a bully, surely, but he also wouldn’t allow anyone to jump the queue. He had been boxing since age 10, and by the time he was 15, he showed the potential to be a great professional boxer. However, father Ray wanted his son to have a plan B—their family’s carpet fitting business. And so, the father began teaching his son the trade, but there was one big problem. “He was the worst carpet fitter in the world,” Ray once admitted, sharing how Hatton cut four of his fingers with a Stanley knife. If he were to have a successful boxing career, he would need all his fingers intact. Hence, Ray made his son a salesman.

While Ray had a pragmatic approach, hoping his son would have something to fall back on if boxing didn’t work out, it turns out that Hatton was way better than they had imagined. He turned professional in 1997 and went on a long winning streak until his defeat to Mayweather.

Fans join Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns in mourning the death of Ricky Hatton

Several people from the boxing world joined New York Knicks‘ Karl-Anthony Towns in mourning Hatton’s death. “RIP Ricky Hatton. Proper Mancunian,” a fan wrote. He highlighted the 46-year-old’s roots, of which Hatton was quite proud throughout his life.

Meanwhile, another follower shared the sentiment, paying his tribute to the former boxing star. “There is only one Ricky Hatton. RIP brother. You were incredible.” It’s not much of a surprise that the boxing fans are quite emotional after hearing the news of ‘The Hitman’ passing away, given that he attracted huge crowds everywhere he fought. His fights against Kostya Tszyu, Luis Collazo, Mayweather, Paulie Malignaggi, and Pacquiao cemented his status as a legend. And his trusted weapon, the short left hook to the body, was deadly. 

“Oh man, he was way too young. I saw him fight in Vegas, and his fans used to sing this song about him. Was wild as hell,” a fan commented on social media. The boxer, who would wear sky blue shorts, also used ‘Blue Moon’ as his walkout song throughout his career.

Another fan commented, “There’s only one Ricky Hatton. RIP to one of the UK’s finest.” And they are right. Though he was one of the best, critics were afraid gluttony would keep him away from greatness. He would consume pints of beer, and his weight would often balloon almost 40 pounds above his fighting weight of 140 lbs. And so, he would have to trim weight before his matches. But he’d just say, “That’s what makes me what I am, you know?”

“Ricky Hatton was a man of the people as well as a great champion. One of the best body punchers I’ve ever seen. The whole country was behind him when he beat Kostya Tszyu & that’s everything you need to know about his popularity. Rest In Peace, Hitman,” another social media user wrote. Whether it was through boxing or through his personality, Ricky Hatton truly struck a chord with the people. Everyone will continue to remember the 46-year-old in their prayers.