Inside Ricky Hatton’s final months from singing in Ibiza and boxing comeback to no shows
Boxing legend Ricky Hatton, 46, was preparing for one final comeback in the sport when he was found dead at his home in Greater Manchester on Sunday morning
Ricky Hatton, 46, has died(Image: Getty Images)
Ricky Hatton was preparing for one last comeback when, on Sunday, he was found dead at his home in Greater Manchester.
Hatton, 46, was a British boxing titan – and news of his return had excited fans of the sweet science. The Hitman, who held multiple world championships at light-welterweight and one at welterweight class, but had not fought professionally since his ill-fated 2012 bout with Vyacheslav Senchenko, wanted one last fight
Hatton, who sadly leaves behind three children: Campbell, 24, who also became a boxer, from a relationship with a former girlfriend, Claire; and Millie, 13, and Fearne, 12, from his relationship with former fianceee Jennifer Dooley, had openly spoken about his struggles with depression and alcohol, and spent time in a rehabilitation clinic.
But having got himself fighting fit, the beloved star looked set to entertain millions of fans again, before his tragic death left the world of boxing in mourning. Here, Daily Star Sport looks at his final months.
Oasis inspiration for fight return
Ricky Hatton was preparing for a comeback(Image: James Fearn, Getty Images)
The Manchester fighter credited the Gallagher brothers’ Oasis reunion with the “inspiration” to step back into the ring. Hatton was close with the brothers, and they even once walked him to the ring for his 2008 win over Paulie Malignaggi.
The Hitman also alluded his last comeback – an exhibition bout in 2022 – had also been a source of inspiration: “It inspired a lot of people, you know, for me to get in shape again at the age I’m at.
“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.’
“‘And to see where you were a few years ago to what you’re doing now, it’s inspirational.’
“Most people most weeks say, ‘From where you were, Rick, to what you’re doing now, it’s so inspiring’. And that’s half the reason why I do it as well.”
And so Hatton went to train for his bout with Eisa Al Dah, which was set to be staged in Dubai, UAE, at which time Hatton would have been 47-years-old.
His final offical public appearance came from his other love – football.
Hatton was a passionate Manchester City fan – and the club paid touching tribute to one of their most famous fans ahead of their Manchester derby win over bitter rivals Manchester United.
The Hitman had walked the red carpet at the PFA awards, beaming in photos posing next to goalkeeper James Trafford – who had just made the jump to City in the summer.
He would then be seen soaking up the remaining summer sunshine in Tenerife as heartwarming footage showed the sporting icon singing along to an Oasis song – he was good friends with the Gallagher brothers – in a local pub.
Carly Leahy and her two youngsters popped to a bar in Costa Adeje in early September when they clocked the Hitman giving fans his own unique take on Wonderwall.
Carly told Manchester Evening News at the time: “He attempted to hit those notes but he definitely messed up the words. I was surprised he didn’t know them by heart because I remember Oasis going to his fights back in the day.”