Former world champion boxer Ricky Hatton has died aged 46.
During his career between 1997 and 2012, the British fighter known as “The Hitman,” won titles in the light welterweight and welterweight divisions.
In July this year, he said he was coming out of retirement for a December bout in Dubai, 13 years on from his last professional match.
The Manchester boxer was set to fight Eisa Al Dah on 2 December.
In 2023, Sky broadcast a documentary exploring the boxer’s life in the ring, his fractured personal life and his continuing mental health battles.
Greater Manchester Police said on Sunday: “Officers were called by a member of the public to attend Bowlacre Road, Hyde, Tameside, at 6.45am today where they found the body of a 46-year-old man.
“There are not currently believed to be any suspicious circumstances.”
Sky News Sport Correspondent Rob Harris called Hatton “one of the great personalities of British boxing,” credited him with “galvanising the sport”.
He said: “As he would travel around the world, winning fights, he would bring that huge fan base with him…
“To have the career he had, with 45 victories and three defeats, was impressive.”
During his 15-year professional career, Hatton held multiple world championships at light-welterweight and one at welterweight class.
Hatton last fought professionally in November 2012, suffering a knockout loss to Ukraine’s Vyacheslav Senchenko.
He once more returned to the ring for an exhibition bout with Marco Antonio Barrera in 2022.
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