Ricky Hatton: Boxing Legend and Family Legacy
Ricky Hatton, a celebrated boxing figure, passed away on 14 September 2025, with his body found at his home in Hyde, near Manchester. His career was marked by significant highs and lows, culminating in his induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota in 2024, an honor he shared alongside fellow boxer Jane Couch. This induction marked a milestone after a 25-year journey and included a long-estranged reconciliation between Hatton and Couch.
Hatton's boxing achievements include a defining victory in June 2005 when he defeated Kostya Tszyu at the MEN Arena in Manchester to claim the IBF light welterweight title. Throughout most of his 48 fights, Hatton was trained by Billy Graham, who played a crucial role in his development, beginning with intensive sessions outside their Salford boxing gym. However, their relationship later faced turmoil, with Graham suing Hatton and his father over money in 2010; the dispute was settled out of court, leading to Hatton's estrangement from his parents.
In 2000, Hatton faced a challenging bout in Detroit against Gilbert Quiros, contending with nerves, a severe eye cut, and double vision, yet managed to prevail. Later in his career, Hatton experienced knockout defeats to top opponents Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2007 and Manny Pacquiao in 2009. His final run included an eight-fight stretch ending with a stoppage loss to Vyacheslav Senchenko in 2012, followed by personal struggles with depression and alcohol.
Hatton’s legacy extends into his family; his brother Matthew Hatton has spoken about how the family coped with Ricky's challenges and loss. The boxing tradition continues with Ricky's nephews, Jack and Lola Hatton, who have made their marks with records of 43 wins in 48 fights and 8 wins in 10 bouts, respectively. During his prime, Hatton enjoyed immense fan support, with tens of thousands of devoted followers and reports indicating around 25,000 fans traveled to Las Vegas to watch one of his fights.
