Ricky Hatton hosting an episode of WWE Raw in November 2009 (Photo credit: WWE)

Former multi-time world boxing champion Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton, who made a memorable crossover into WWE, has died at the age of 46.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed that officers were called by a member of the public to an address in Hyde, Tameside, at 6:45 a.m. UK time on Sunday, where they found Hatton’s body. Authorities stated that they are not treating the death as suspicious.

Hatton was one of the most popular and successful British fighters of his generation. His professional career, which spanned from 1997 to 2012, saw him win multiple world championships in the super-lightweight and welterweight divisions. His crowning achievement came in 2005 when he defeated Kostya Tszyu in his hometown of Manchester to become a world champion.

The victory established Hatton as a superstar, leading to high-profile bouts in Las Vegas against Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. He was famously supported by a large, vocal following of British fans known as the “Hatton Army” who traveled to his fights.

Hatton’s connection to the world of professional wrestling included serving as the guest host of Monday Night Raw on November 9, 2009, in Sheffield, England. During that broadcast, Hatton participated in a boxer vs. wrestler match with Chavo Guerrero, which ended with him knocking Guerrero out to the delight of the home crowd.

Following his retirement from boxing, Hatton spoke openly about his struggles with depression, alcohol, and drug addiction. He had recently been training for a comeback exhibition fight scheduled for December in Dubai.

Tributes have poured in from across the sports world. Former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury wrote on social media, “There will only ever be 1 Ricky hatton. can’t believe this so young”. Manny Pacquiao, a former opponent, stated, “We shared unforgettable moments in boxing history and I will always honour the respect and sportsmanship he showed”.

Hatton was a devoted lifelong supporter of the Manchester City football club. During Sunday’s Manchester derby, both City and their rivals Manchester United held a minute’s applause in his honor. In a statement, Manchester City called him “an icon of British boxing” and “one of City’s most loved and revered supporters”.