The news that Ricky Hatton has died at just 46 feels like taking one of his trademark body shots — sudden, devastating, and leaving me winded.
This one isn’t just another blog for me. It’s personal. CMBoxing wouldn’t exist without Ricky Hatton.
Before him, I was just a casual fan. I’d tune in for the odd big fight, nothing more. Then Ricky burst onto the scene. I started watching his bouts, then the men he was meant to face next, then their fights too. Before long, I wasn’t dabbling — I was living and breathing boxing. Ricky Hatton didn’t just fight. He turned me, and thousands like me, into fanatics.
I’ll never forget the first time I saw him live — May 2008, at the City of Manchester Stadium, fighting Juan Lazcano in front of 55,000 fans. Hearing Blue Moon roar out across his beloved club’s ground, watching him carry Manchester City’s colours into the ring, and standing among the biggest fight crowd Britain had ever seen — that was Ricky. He wasn’t just a boxer. He was an event.
From Pub Cellar to Professional
Ricky’s roots were humble. Born in Stockport in 1978, his parents were publicans, and his early training took place in the cellar of their pub in Hyde. That’s where the graft began: in a basement, not a polished gym.
Even as fame came, he stayed grounded. He’d be seen around Manchester pubs, chatting with fans, pint in hand. He never pretended to be anything other than what he was: a working-class lad who loved his city, his club, and his people. His Blue Moon ring walks weren’t gimmicks — they were statements.
Climbing the Ladder the Hard Way
Unlike many fighters today, Ricky took the traditional route.
- British Title (2000) — Beating Jon Thaxton to claim the Lonsdale Belt.
- Commonwealth Title (2001) — Defeating Tony Pep to widen his reach.
- European Title (2002) — Facing Eamonn Magee, getting dropped early but rallying back to win. Ricky later said it was the best thing that ever happened to him — it taught him he wasn’t invincible, that true champions get up.
Step by step, belt by belt, Ricky built himself the old-school way.
Ricky Rocks the World
4 June 2005. Manchester Arena.
Ricky Hatton faced Kostya Tszyu, the fearsome IBF champion, a pound-for-pound star who few thought could be beaten. Almost nobody gave Ricky a chance.
But on that night, Hatton was relentless. He swarmed Tszyu, ripped the body, and forced a pace the champion couldn’t live with. After 11 brutal rounds, Tszyu stayed on his stool.
The commentary was iconic:
“He’s not coming out! He’s not coming out! Ricky Hatton has rocked the world!”
The cameras showed Ricky and trainer Billy Graham hugging on the floor, Ricky in tears. It was raw. It was real. And it was one of the greatest nights in British boxing history.
Unifying and Building His Legacy
Just months later, Ricky knocked out Carlos Maussa to unify the light-welterweight division, adding the WBA title to his IBF crown.
From there, he became a global star:
- Luis Collazo (2006) — A rough welterweight debut in Boston, edged on heart.
- Juan Urango (2007) — A points win back at 140lbs.
- Jose Luis Castillo (2007) — A vicious body shot finish in Las Vegas. Castillo, one of the sport’s toughest men, couldn’t rise.
Vegas Nights: Mayweather Heartbreak
By late 2007, Ricky was ready for the biggest fight of his career: Floyd Mayweather Jr.
He brought tens of thousands of fans to Las Vegas, turning the MGM Grand into a sea of sky blue. Blue Moon echoed through the strip as Manchester City came to Vegas.
Inside the ropes, Mayweather was too slick, too sharp. In the 10th round, Ricky was stopped for the first time in his career. It hurt, but it proved something: a British fighter could headline in Vegas and take his people with him.
A Night in City Blue
After the Mayweather defeat, Ricky came home. On 24 May 2008, he fought Juan Lazcano at the City of Manchester Stadium.
Over 55,000 fans packed in — the biggest fight crowd Britain had ever seen at the time. It was Ricky’s first fight in the UK in years. The atmosphere was like nothing else: scarves waving, Blue Moon blasting, Manchester City’s ground rocking.
Ricky wasn’t at his very best that night, but he won — and for the fans, especially me seeing him live for the first time, it was unforgettable.
Back to Vegas: Malignaggi and Pacquiao
Later in 2008, Ricky returned to Las Vegas and beat Paulie Malignaggi in style. He was sharp, aggressive, and forced Malignaggi’s corner to throw in the towel in the 11th round. It looked like he was back.
But then came May 2009. Manny Pacquiao. A brutal left hand ended the fight in the second round. Ricky was out cold, and so was his prime.
The Struggles
Out of the ring, Ricky’s battles became as famous as his wins. He ballooned in weight between fights — the “Ricky Fatton” jokes became part of his story. But the toll was real.
After Pacquiao, things got darker. Alcohol, drugs, depression — Ricky spiralled. But he never hid it. He spoke openly, and in doing so, helped more people than he realised. In a sport of bravado, he showed honesty. That’s why fans never left him.
The 2012 Return
In 2012, Ricky came back. The Manchester Arena shook as Blue Moon rang out. For a few rounds against Vyacheslav Senchenko, it looked like the fairy tale might come true. But in the ninth, a body shot — the same punch Ricky had once used to destroy Castillo — ended it.
Poetic. Cruel. Pure boxing.
The Comeback That Will Never Be
Even in recent years, Ricky wasn’t done. He had been preparing for a return this December. I even wrote about it on this site (read here). He looked sharp, slim, happy.
That fight will never happen now. But it doesn’t need to. Ricky’s story was already written.
Beyond the Ring
Ricky gave back to boxing as a trainer and promoter. He guided his son, Campbell, and worked with Tyson Fury during his comeback. His love for the sport never faded, and his influence will live on.
The People’s Champion
Ricky Hatton wasn’t perfect. He wasn’t polished. But he was real.
He trained in a pub cellar. He climbed British, Commonwealth, and European ladders. He rocked the world against Tszyu. He fought Mayweather and Pacquiao. He came home to 55,000 at the City of Manchester Stadium. He struggled, admitted it, and came back.
He was Manchester. He was City blue. He was the People’s Champion.
My Ricky
I’ve got a wall full of boxing signatures. Every one means something. But without Ricky Hatton, that wall wouldn’t exist.
I’ll never forget staying up until stupid o’clock to watch him dismantle Tszyu. I’ll never forget being at the City of Manchester Stadium, scarves waving as he returned home. I’ll never forget watching him in Manchester on his comebacks.
Ricky Hatton didn’t just fight. He made me fall in love with boxing.
Rest Easy, Champ
Rest in peace, Ricky Hatton. Thank you for the fights, the nights, the memories. Thank you for carrying Manchester City’s sky blue on the world stage. Thank you for being real.
You’ll always be the People’s Champion.
Share Your Memories
What are your memories of Ricky Hatton? Were you at the City of Manchester Stadium, or one of the thousands singing Blue Moon in Las Vegas? Share your stories in the comments — and join us at CMBoxing as we continue to celebrate the fighters who made us fall in love with this sport.