Boxing legend Ricky Hatton dies at 46

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Former two-division world boxing champion Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton passed away at the age of 46, confirmed on Sept. 14, 2025.

According to multiple reports, Hatton was found dead at his home in Greater Manchester, England, around 6:45 AM when a concerned citizen made a phone call to the Greater Manchester Police.

The police quickly responded to the location, where they found the body of a 46-year-old man. Currently, the investigating body believes that the death doesn’t have any suspicious circumstances.

Known for his brute force and aggressive pace of fighting, Hatton became England’s superstar when he rose in the ranks of the light welterweight division in 2000.

In just a span of three years, Hatton stole the limelight and took the sport of sweet science by storm when he bagged the British light welterweight belt and the World Boxing Union (WBU) title.

Hatton was invincible in the weight class, making a record of 15 successful title defenses from 2001 to 2004. Five years later, the relentless pug captured the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and lineal titles after outdueling Kostya Tszyu, adding two more straps under his belt.

In 2006, Hatton made a courageous professional career move after moving up to the welterweight division, where a stacked pool of fighters, headlined by Floyd Mayweather Jr., are currently competing.

Hatton had a favorable start in the welterweight, defeating Luis Collazo to nab his first belt in the weight division, but later on suffered his first-ever pro defeat at the hands of Mayweather Jr.

Since that loss, Hatton’s boxing campaign went on a roller coaster, as he suffered the most devastating loss in his career against Filipino living legend Manny Pacquiao last May 2, 2009.

Pacquiao sent Hatton to the worst phase of his career, after boxing’s only eight-division world champion knocked him out cold in the second round of their light welterweight title showdown.

Even Pacquiao expressed his thoughts via a social media post minutes after hearing the sad news: “I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Ricky Hatton.”

“We shared unforgettable moments in boxing history and I will always honor the respect and sportsmanship he showed. Ricky fought bravely, not just in the ring, but in his journey through life. He truly had a good fight, and we are all blessed to have been part of his wonderful journey.”