Police report no suspicious circumstances as tributes flood in for Manchester favorite

Ricky Hatton, the former world champion whose blue-collar grit made him a global fan favorite, has died at 46. He was found at his home in Greater Manchester, according to British media. Local police said they were called to a property in Hyde, Tameside, around 6:45 am and that there are no suspicious circumstances. Authorities said they are working with family to provide a formal statement.

A fighter who faced the elite

Hatton captured world titles at light welterweight and welterweight, and shared the ring with the era’s finest, including Kostya Tszyu, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. Known for relentless pressure and a roaring support that turned arenas into terraces, he had recently announced plans to return to the ring in December in Dubai against Eisa Al Dah.

Tributes and a candid voice on mental health

Fellow champions paid swift tribute. Amir Khan hailed Hatton as a friend and warrior while urging openness about mental health, an issue Hatton addressed with unusual honesty after retirement. Tyson Fury called him a legend and mourned a life ended far too soon. Hatton later found purpose in the corner, guiding Zhanat Zhakiyanov to a world bantamweight title in 2017.

Working-class hero and the virtue of the gym

Hatton’s appeal rested on more than belts. He embodied the virtues that boxing gyms across Britain still cultivate, often without fanfare or funding streams. Discipline, personal responsibility and mentorship turn rough edges into resilience. In an era of sprawling programs and fleeting celebrity, his path was built in small clubs, not committee rooms, and it resonated far beyond Manchester.

A legacy that outlasts the final bell

Britain has lost a rare original, a champion who made ordinary fans feel part of something bigger. As formal statements are arranged and the family grieves, Hatton’s legacy will be the crowds he galvanized, the fighters he trained and the reminder that steel forged in community can carry a man to the top of the world.