Former world champion boxer Ricky Hatton has died at 46 years old.
The boxer, nicknamed “The Hitman,” was found dead in Manchester, England, on Sunday (Sept. 14).
According to a Greater Manchester Police spokesperson, there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding Hatton’s death.
Hatton’s 15-year boxing career turned him into a legend. He won world titles at the light-welterweight and welterweight levels and was considered to be one of the UK’s most popular fighters.
In his career, Hatton only lost only three fights, with two of those losses coming against Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
The World Boxing Association announced his death with a statement.
"A true champion, an indomitable spirit, and a legend of the sport. Your legacy will live on in every fight and in the hearts of boxing fans around the world," the statement read.
Hatton was set to make a comeback at a boxing event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, later this year. He'd been recently posting videos of himself in the gym working out in preparation for the event.
Tributes for the legendary boxer poured in online, one of them from another British former world champion boxer, Amir Khan. In a touching post dedicated to Hatton, Khan referred to him as "one of Britain's greatest boxers" as well as a friend, mentor, and warrior.
“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,” Khan said. “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.”
British former heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury also paid tribute to Hatton on Instagram, writing in a post, “Rip to the legend rickyhatton may he rip. There will only ever be 1 Ricky hatton. can’t believe this so young.”
