The boxing world has been sent into a state of mourning as authorities confirmed all time British great Ricky Hatton has died following a glistening career at the top of the sport
British boxing legend Ricky Hatton was found dead today at the age of 46 after previously opening up about his fight with mental and physical health issues.
The three-time world champion was discovered at his home in Hyde on the outskirts of his native Manchester. Greater Manchester Police confirmed that a body had been found at Hatton’s address and that the death was not being treated as suspicious.
A GMP spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we have found a body at an address on Bowlacre Road in Gee Cross at 6.45am today, Sunday, September 14. The death is not being treated as suspicious.” The tragic death comes as Hatton was due to return to the ring in December, 13 years on from his last professional bout.
He was expected to face Dubai’s first-ever professional boxer Eisa Al Dah in the Emirate. He had not fought professionally since taking on Vyachslav Senchenko in Manchester in 2012, three and a half years after he had hung up his gloves following a defeat by Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.
Outside of his glistening career in the ring, Hatton was known to open up about his struggles with depression and mental and physical health issues.
In one of this most revealing interviews, the Hitman told how he dropped to his knees in tears and told his psychiatrist “I’m going to kill myself” at the height of his depression.
He said: “I was sat in my living room and I was just thinking to myself ‘you’ve got no boxing no more, you can’t share what you’ve done with your mum and dad, you can’t share it with your trainer, you haven’t got a missus anymore’,” the former boxer said.
“I thought what do I need to be here for? I didn’t want to be here, I really didn’t.
“My girlfriend at the time got pregnant with my daughter Millie, and I thought ‘come on Rick, it’s not about you now, it’s about the kids, get yourself together’. Even Millie couldn’t get me back on track.
“I was still down. I went to speak to a psychiatrist in Manchester and threw myself on my knees and said ‘you need to tell me what to do, I can’t do it on my own, you need to tell me today what to do otherwise I won’t be here next week, I’m going to kill myself’.”
The sessions thankfully worked with Hatton in a much better place both mentally and physically after the treatment. As well as the psychiatrist sessions, the Manc’s mental health was transformed by a renewed love of boxing training.
He lost four stones in just 12 weeks ahead of his hugely successful celebration fight at the Manchester Arena in November 2022.
For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
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