Boxing champion Ricky Hatton found dead at home aged 46

Football tributes roll in for Hatton

As we've been reporting, Ricky Hatton was a lifelong fan of Manchester City, and you can read more about their tribute to him in our previous post.

Football clubs and players have also shared messages to remember the champion boxer, here's some of what we've seen:

Local team to where Hatton lived, Hyde United FC, are "devastated".

"He was a local and boxing legend who always championed local sport and brought joy into so many lives. A huge, committed figure who gave dedicated time back to the community," they say in a statement.

Also included in football-related tributes is former Liverpool player John Aldrige.

He writes: "I was lucky to have met him on numerous occasions and he was a top bloke it's so sad far to young to be taken away."

Soccer Aid pay tribute through a series of photos of Hatton in an England football kit, they look back to his appearance for the charity football game in 2010.

In a post on X, alongside the images they say their thoughts are with his family and friend and recall Ricky's comment after his stint on the football pitch: "I should stick to my boxing."

Manchester City to hold minute's 'appreciation' for Hatton at football derby

Hatton was a lifelong supporter of Manchester City Football Club (MCFC).

The club have made a statement following the boxer's death at the age of 46.

In a statement they say that "few, if any, British boxers can claim to have garnered such a dedicated fanbase".

"His audience were captivated by his relentless, front-foot boxing style and felt a deep connection to the humble, down-to-earth human being he had always been."

They reference his love for the club, as he wore sky blue coloured shorts and used the Man City-related song Blue Moon to walk out to throughout his career.

He also fought Juan Lazcano at the Etihad Stadium, home to Man City.

"Ricky was one of City’s most loved and revered supporters. He will always be remembered," the statement continued.

"Everyone at the Club would like to send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time."

The club adds it will hold a "minute's appreciation" at today's derby against Manchester United.

'A superbly talented fighter who inspired a generation of young boxers' - Frank Warren

We've just seen a tribute from his former promoter Frank Warren.

Warren, who managed Hatton’s career from his professional debut in 1997 up to his historic world title win over Kostya Tszyu in 2005, said on X: "I am extremely saddened to learn of the passing of British boxing legend Ricky Hatton.

"A superbly talented fighter who inspired a generation of young boxers and fans in a way very few had done before due to both his personality and the entertainment he provided in the ring.

"From making his debut Widnes in 1997 to then go on to win one of the most historic fights in British boxing history against Kostya Tszyu in Manchester, Ricky will rightly go down as one of the modern greats of this sport.

"My deepest condolences go out to his family at this awful time."

A boxing career that began in a pub basement

Ricky Hatton was notable for his huge success and his down-to-earth charm.

Born in Stockport, Manchester, in October 1978, he was a proud Mancunian his whole life. He supported Manchester City football club, and was friends with the Gallagher brothers.

He grew up in a pub on a council estate, and Hatton told the Guardian in 2009 that "me and my brother, Matthew, used to help out in the pub for pocket money".

Hatton made his boxing debut at 11.

His parents made a small gym in the pub basement when he was 12, where he used to practice on a punching bag.

Until he turned professional, Hatton worked in the family carpet business. "I wasn't much good," he said of it.

He had a brief but successful amateur career in boxing, then the rest is history.

Hatton has three children, and was never married.

'I looked up to him, coming from humble beginnings' - Ricky's inspiration

Eleanor Shearwood and Vicky Carter

BBC Newsbeat

Aneek Hushen, an elite amateur boxer from Bolton, describes Ricky Hatton’s death as “a massive loss to the boxing world”.

"I looked up to him, coming from humble beginnings". To see where he went - becoming a two weight world champion - made me think “young fighters like me can do the same thing”.

He adds his popularity is not just in Manchester but all around the world and it’ll have “a massive impact, especially for young fighters”.

In our next post, we'll take a closer look at Hatton's rise to fame from what Aneek describes as his "humble beginnings".

Hatton: A champion for mental health

In recent years, Hatton became vocal about his own struggles with mental health, and tried to help others too.

He became an ambassador for the mental health charity Campaign Against Living Miserably in 2023.

"If a boxer can come out and say they're struggling and crying every day, it's going to make a huge difference," he explained to the BBC in 2020.

"Having gone through it, I now see it as my job to help those suffering with mental health."

If you are struggling and need support, you can find help and resources at BBC Action Line.

'A boxing icon, a true Man City fan': Micah Richards remembers Hatton as 'man of the people'

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards has been paying tribute to his friend, Ricky Hatton, on Sky Sports now ahead of this afternoon's Manchester derby.

"The news is devastating," Richards says.

"He's such a British icon... a true Man City fan, but most importantly he was a man of the people.

"He was the nicest guy ever - I remember going down to one of his gyms and I was a bit nervous because I didn't know about boxing and he said 'just do this' and he took his time.

"For him to take the time and effort, I've been multiple times for beers with him just talking about football and life.

"To get this news now is just surreal."

'A Manchester lad': Ricky united a city divided by football - BBC's Hugh Ferris

Speaking to BBC News, BBC Sport Centre's Hugh Ferris says Hatton was a sporting icon, not only in what he achieved, but for the city in which he lived, Manchester.

Manchester, a city divided by its two football teams, United and City, was united by the boxer, Ferris explains.

"He was able to unite a city in support of his efforts in the boxing ring."

However, he was an "absolute die hard blue" - also known as a fan of Manchester City.

Hatton was also friends with the Gallagher brothers, otherwise known as Oasis, fellow Mancunian legends.

Outside of the ring, "he was a Manchester lad" who went out with friends, Ferris continues.

"Here in the city of Manchester, and beyond throughout the world, he was an incredibly popular man."

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