Ricky Hatton’s last post on social media before his death showed him getting ready for a comeback fight.
In a post on Instagram, the boxer wrote “Thursday session in the bag” alongside a video of him training hard.
Many encouraging comments were left on the video, including messages telling him to “keep leading by example” and calling him the “people’s champ”.
The fighter was hailed as a “huge inspiration” for getting back in the ring after publicly struggling with mental health issues. Another commented: “Still got the moves”
The 46-year-old tragically died on Sunday morning. The sad news was confirmed by the Greater Manchester Police, who said: “We can confirm that we have found a body at an address in Gee Cross at 6.45am today, Sunday, September 14. The death is not being treated as suspicious.”
Hatton, known as ‘The Hitman’, secured four world titles after going up against some of history’s greatest fighters.
The boxer held an MBE and worked as a promoter and trainer since retiring from the sport in 2012.
He also participated in TV show Dancing on Ice last year.
The boxer loved Oasis, and famously had Noel and Liam Gallagher walk him into the ring for his 2008 fight, and he later went to their reunion concerts. It is said that he saw the pair’s comeback as an inspiration.
Hatton was a big fan of Oasis, who walked him onto stage in 2008 (Getty Images)
It’s been reported that he saw the pair’s comeback as an inspiration.
The grandad’s career in boxing spanned for fifteen years from 1997-2012, winning multiple world championships.
Hatton recently announced that he would be in the ring again, this time in Dubai, up against Eisa Aldah thirteen years after his previously attempt at a comeback against Vyacheslav Senchenko.
After the boxer retired, he was said to struggle with depression and alcohol abuse issues, but got sober three years ago ahead of a fight with Mexican legend, Marco Antonio Barrera.
Speaking about his planned comeback to The Sun, he said: “I think I know what fights I’m capable of doing and I know which fights are beyond me. And this one is one I’m capable of doing. Don’t worry about me.”
He added: “It makes me feel so proud that I was so loved and that people get worried when they hear of me making a comeback. But I’m not as daft as I look.
“I know what fights are beyond me, I know which fights are silly for me, I know which fights I’m capable of and which ones are sensible for me.
“And this is one of them, so I’ll do you proud again.
Ricky Hatton was a world champion boxer (John Walton/PA) (PA Archive)
“The party can’t last forever,” he conceded. “Sooner or later, you’ve got to slow down. And I think I’ve reached that stage.
“But I’m in such a good place mentally, from where I was a few years back, and physically.
“I haven’t got a six pack these days, but, you know, Ricky Hatton‘s belly’s gone.
“So things are all good and it’s nice from how bad it was to what it is now.
“Most people most weeks, say, ‘From where you were, Rick, to what you’re doing now, it’s so inspiring. And that’s half the reason why I do it as well.”
Hatton earned the title of lineal welterweight champion in 2005 (Getty Images)
Ricky was raised on a council estate and left school to work with dad Ray as a £150-a-week carpet fitter before going pro.
His career defining fight took place in Manchester in 2005, up against Kostya Tszyu which earned him the title of lineal light-welterweight champion.
Two years later, he fought Floyd Mayweather Jr, one of history’s greatest pound-for-pound fighters, in Las Vegas.
The defeat to Mayweather would turn out to be something Hatton seemed unable to recover from, but in November 2008, he was up again, fighting Italian-American Paulie Malignaggi.
Hatton worked as a boxer, boxing promoter and trainer, over his 28-year career (Getty Images)
In 2009, Hatton decided to call an end to his boxing career, boasting a record of 45 wins and two losses.
Despite his losses being minimal, he struggled deeply with depression over them, and in 2010, checked into the mental health facility, The Priory clinic, in Cheshire.
He attempted a comeback again in November 2012 against Ukrainian Vyacheslav Senchenko. Failing this fight, he once again announced his retirement.
In 2016 he split with partner Jennifer, the mother to his daughters Millie and Fearne, after 11 years together.
Hatton’s 24-year-old son Campbell (from a previous relationship) also went on to a professional boxer but has since retired.