British world boxing champion nicknamed ‘the Hitman’ loved by his vast army of fans
Ricky Hatton, who has died aged 46, was one of the most popular of British boxers, with a cheeky-chappy, hard-drinking persona that helped him build a vast army of fans. He would refer to himself as a “Manc scally”, and thousands of his supporters believed he was not just a fighter but also their pal.
Perhaps his finest hour as a fighter came in 2005 when, as World Boxing Union (WBU) light welterweight champion, he was matched with the International Boxing Federation title holder, the Russian Kostya Tszyu, an outstanding and skilful boxer. The fight was staged in the early hours of the morning to suit the demands of American television.
Hatton, urged on by a sell-out crowd of more than 20,000 at the Manchester Arena, was at his rampaging best. Tszyu retired on his stool after 11 rounds of torrid combat, and Hatton had achieved his dream of being what the sport would regard as a genuine world champion.
Born in Stockport, Ricky grew up on the Hattersley council estate in Hyde, Greater Manchester. His mother, Carol, and father, Ray, ran a pub and also had a carpet business, in which Ricky briefly worked after leaving school before embarking on a professional boxing career as soon as he could, at the age of 18.
