The life and times of a boxing legend | Manchester News

The sporting world was left in shock this week when former world champion boxer Ricky Hatton was found dead at his home.

Here, we take a look back on the life and times of a legend in the ring.

Born in Stockport in 1978, Ricky Hatton spent most of his upbringing on the Hattersley council estate in Hyde, Greater Manchester.

But it was the hours spent tucked away in a small gym his parents built in their pub cellar where his love for boxing was born.

His got his first real taste in the ring at Sale West Amateur Boxing Club and his peers knew immediately that he was destined for greater things.

“As a kid he was an unbelievable fighter,” said Thomas McDonagh, who trained with a young Hatton.

He added: “Even at that age he was knocking everyone out. He was such a superstar.”

Upon finishing school, Hatton started working for the family carpet-fitting business but an accident with a Stanley knife saw him moved to the sales team, far away from danger, and one step closer to the career he dreamed of.

Ricky Hatton’s amateur career was a short but very successful one which saw him winning 73 fights out of 80.

Hatton turned professional in September 1997 at the age of 18 where, in his first fight, he defeated Colin McAuley at the Kingsway Leisure Centre in Widnes.

Along the way he was given the nickname ‘the Hitman’ as a result of his all-action style of combat.

A trip to New York, US, to fight at Madison Square Garden followed shortly afterwards and by May 1999 he had bagged his first international title against Guyanese fighter Dillon Carew in Halifax.

The summer of 2005 is widely regarded as the pinnacle of Ricky Hatton’s career and the moment he cemented his reputation among the world’s elite.

On 5 June of that year he went into a contest against Kostya Tszyu with a 38-0 record and holding the WBU light welterweight belt but still Hatton was seen as the underdog.

Boxing critics gave him no chance against Tszyu who was considered one of the top pound-for-pound boxers in the world.

So it came as a surprise to everyone, except his most loyal supporters, when he defeated the Australian in an 11-round fight at the Manchester Arena in front of 22,000 fans.

He finally had his hands on a world title: The International Boxing Federation and The Ring junior welterweight championship.

“From 2001 to 2005 Ricky Hatton changed the face of British boxing,” said boxing commentator Steve Bunce.

“He had 12 sell-outs at the Manchester Arena and made that his home, or citadel.

“As he has admitted, he wasn’t the best British boxer in history but he was, without a doubt, the most popular.”

Success continued for Ricky Hatton over the following years and in July 2007 he announced plans to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr in Las Vegas, US.

The event’s title Undefeated alluded to both boxers’ perfect record in the ring, with Hatton having won 43 professional fights, just a few ahead of Mayweather’s 38.

An estimated 30,000 fans travelled to Vegas for the fight on 7 December at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and millions tuned in to watch from around the world.

Ricky Hatton was defeated in the 10th round and there began a steady decline for the former world champion.

In 2008 he returned with victories over Juan Lazcano and Paulie Malignaggi but by then problems had begun with Hatton’s mental health and addiction to drink and drugs.

He fought Manny Pacquiao in 2009, in Las Vegas, but that ended in a brutal second-round defeat.

Substance issues, coupled with a reputation for rapid weight gain, led Hatton down a dark path.

He later admitted suicidal thoughts and addiction became a daily occurrence and had been difficult to deal with.

“I didn’t know what I was doing from one day to the next,” he told Radio Manchester in 2012.

“Anyone who has had depression will know it’s like walking around in a daze.”

Later that year a comeback attempt fell short against Vyacheslav Senchenko in which he was knocked out by a body shot.

Outside of the ring he became a father three times, to Campbell, Millie and Fearne.

He also started a business venture in 2009 when he opened a gym in Hyde, an opportunity to give back to the community from which he had come.

As of his death on Sunday 14 September, Ricky Hatton’s boxing record stood at a remarkable 45 wins to three defeats.