'people's Champion Who Fought With Every Part Of His Soul'

Ricky Hatton was remembered arsenic a "warrior" who became nan "people's champion" arsenic boxing legends and sporting greats paid tribute pursuing nan fighter's decease astatine nan property of 46.

Former world champion Hatton's assemblage was recovered astatine his location successful Hyde, Greater Manchester connected Sunday and constabulary said location are not thought to beryllium immoderate suspicious circumstances.

Stockport-born Hatton - nicknamed 'the Hitman' - was precocious connected nan database of Britain's astir celebrated and recognisable boxers having won world titles successful nan light-welterweight and welterweight divisions.

Amir Khan remembered "one of Britain's top boxers" and Tyson Fury said Hatton was a "legend", while Wayne Rooney said he was "devastated" by nan news.

Boxing journalist Steve Bunce told BBC Radio 5 Live: "We utilized nan cliche 'people's champion', but cipher had travel adjacent to what Ricky was earlier and cipher has travel adjacent to what Ricky was since.

"He fought pinch each portion of his psyche and fibre. If he won location was thing left, and if he mislaid location was thing left. He gave everything successful triumph and defeat.

"He should ne'er person been arsenic bully arsenic he was. He should ne'er person had nan fame and accolades and glory he had, but that was down to axenic determination and desire."

Hatton's parents made a mini gym successful nan basement of their pub erstwhile he was 12, and it was location that he honed his skills connected a punching bag.

He roseate done amateur and home levels to pit his wits against elite boxers of his generation, including Kostya Tszyu, Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao.

Hatton achieved a staggering 43-0 grounds earlier his first nonaccomplishment came astatine nan hands of Mayweather astatine nan MGM Grand successful Las Vegas successful 2007.

Much of Hatton's entreaty laic successful nan salt-of-the-earth roots which he ne'er mislaid touch pinch - doing overmuch of his training successful a ramshackle gym supra a carpet mill successful Hyde.

Indeed, erstwhile he walked to nan ringing to look Mayweather successful Las Vegas he did truthful wearing a clothes which carried an advert for his father's carpet shop wherever he had worked until he turned professional.

"He was very approachable, very down to earth, which goes a agelong measurement to show you what nan man is each about," said erstwhile WBC super-middleweight champion Richie Woodhall.

"He reached nan very apical successful his sport, but you could attack him and person a cup of beverage pinch him – that's what made him appealing to people."

Mancunian Hatton's all-action style made him 1 of nan astir celebrated fighters successful nan first decade of nan 21st Century.

Hatton's erstwhile promoter Frank Warren described, successful a station connected X, a "superbly talented fighter" who "inspired a procreation of young boxers".

Warren wrote: "From making his debut successful Widnes successful 1997 to past spell connected to triumph 1 of nan astir historical fights successful British boxing history against Kostya Tszyu successful Manchester, Ricky will rightly spell down arsenic 1 of nan modern greats of this sport."

Fellow promoter Eddie Hearn added: "Everybody loved Ricky. May he remainder successful eternal peace."

Britain's erstwhile light-welterweight world champion Khan said Hatton was "a friend, a mentor, a warrior".

"Rip to nan fable Ricky Hatton whitethorn he rip," said erstwhile heavyweight world champion Fury connected Instagram. "There will only ever beryllium 1 Ricky Hatton. Can't judge this truthful young."

Hatton had uncommon popularity, being a fig who managed to transcend his sport.

During his highest he hung retired pinch chap Manchester City fans Liam and Noel Gallagher of Oasis.

Bunce said that Hatton "lived life fully" but was ever consenting "to return nan mickey retired of himself".

Darts fable Phil Taylor and ex-England cricketer Andrew Flintoff were among those from different sports to salary tribute connected societal media.

Former England and Manchester United footballer Rooney, who carried Hatton's belts into nan ringing earlier a conflict pinch Jose Luis Castillo successful 2007, said connected X he was "devastated" and Hatton was a "a legend, a warrior and a awesome person".

Defeats to Mayweather and Pacquiao successful 2007 and 2009 near Hatton profoundly depressed and led to nan darkest times of his life.

After status he was candid astir his struggles pinch drinking and intelligence wellness arsenic he tried to capable a void successful his life.

"Those of america successful nan business person lived pinch Ricky's ups and downs complete nan past 15 years," Bunce said.

"The highs and nan lows, nan awesome nights successful Las Vegas and nan awesome nights successful Manchester. Some of those that were person to him witnessed nan acheronian holes, nan slump and nan acheronian thoughts.

"He has had immoderate troubles. He talked astir his intelligence wellness problems. He has talked astir his addictions. He addressed them and faced them and attacked them."

Hatton, who won 45 of his 48 master bouts crossed a 15-year career, past fought professionally successful 2012, suffering conclusion by Ukraine's Vyacheslav Senchenko during a little comeback.

He later recovered immoderate occurrence arsenic a trainer, proved to beryllium an particularly sought aft after-dinner speaker, and beamed pinch pridefulness astatine nan emergence to nan master ranks of his son, Campbell.

Hatton fought an accumulation bout against Marco Antonio Barrera successful 2022 and was scheduled to person different conflict successful Dubai successful December.

"He was a man of nan group and a spectacular fighter," erstwhile WBA featherweight champion Barry McGuigan wrote connected X.

"A awesome man wrong nan ringing and a awesome man extracurricular of it. RIP Ricky, my thoughts and prayers are pinch his family astatine this very difficult time."