Ricky Hatton looked fit and strong in his final Instagram post just days before the British sporting icon tragically died aged 46.
Hatton, one of the greatest boxers Great Britain has ever produced, was found dead at his home in Manchester on Sunday.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: ‘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.’
‘The Hitman’ won world titles at light-welterweight and welterweight and was one of the most popular fighters of his generation.
Hatton last fought professionally in 2012, ending a brilliant 15-year career with 45 wins from 48 bouts.
In his final Instagram post, Hatton uploaded a video showing him training for his comeback fight in December.
It was announced in July that Hatton would be fighting Eisa Al Dah in a middleweight bout in Dubai.
In the final video he uploaded to social media, Hatton said he was pleased to get ‘another 5k’ in the bag as he filmed himself on a treadmill, dripped in sweat.
Organisers said Hatton’s fight against Al Hah would be a professional bout, but it was unclear whether it would be fully sanctioned.
Hatton was nevertheless taking his training seriously, often posting videos and pictures of his work in the gym ahead of his return to the ring.
The British sporting legend was also taking part in media sessions to promote the right and recently spoke to Metro about his comeback in an interview yet to be published.
Discussing his comeback earlier in the year, Hatton said he was ‘really looking forward to it.’
‘The Hitman’ had already made an unsuccessful comeback in 2012, losing to Vyacheslav Senchenko in Manchester, while he fought Marco Antonio Barrera in an exhibition in 2022.
While training to fight Barrera, discussed how he ‘reached rock bottom’ following his boxing career and said he suffered from depression.
‘It was a very easy decision to me to make,’ the then-44-year-old told BBC Sport.
‘The whole purpose was to set myself a goal for this exhibition, to get in shape and inspire so many people.
‘I haven’t even set foot in the ring yet but the letters, comments of people who’ve struggled with weight, struggled with mental health have said: “Wow, if you can do it, what you’ve been through and shift all that weight at 44 years of age?”
‘That’s what it’s all about for me, just as much as throwing the punches.’
Hatton’s most notable world title wins came against Kostya Tszyu and Jose Luis Castillo, while he suffered defeats to all-time greats Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquaio.
Such was his popularity, over 30,000 fans travelled to Las Vegas for Hatton’s title fight against Mayweather in 2007.
Those inside and outside the world of boxing have begun to pay tribute to Hatton, one of the best and most popular athletes of his generation.
Amir Khan, another British boxing icon, said: ‘Today we lost not only one of Britain’s greatest boxers, but a friend, a mentor, a warrior, Ricky Hatton.
‘As fighters, we tell ourselves we’re strong — we train, we sweat, we take hits, we get up. But sometimes the hardest fight happens in silence, in the mind.
‘Mental health isn’t weakness. It’s part of being human. And we must talk about it. We must reach out. We must lean on each other.
‘Ricky, thank you for everything. For your fights, your moments of glory, your grit. Thank you for pushing us, showing us what’s possible.
‘To everyone reading this: if you’re hurting or struggling, you are not alone. Talk. Reach out. Because we need more light, more compassion, more understanding.
‘Rest well, Ricky. You’ll always have your place in the ring of our memories.’
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