Pacquiao’s tribute
Hatton won world titles at light-welterweight and welterweight and at the height of his career shared the ring with the best boxers of his generation including Kostya Tszyu, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
“He was not only a great fighter inside the ring but also a brave and kind man in life,” Pacquiao posted on X. “Ricky fought bravely, not just in the ring, but in his journey through life. He truly had a good fight, and we are all blessed to have been part of his wonderful journey.”
Hatton rose through amateur and domestic levels, building up an army of passionate fans that followed him to America for his biggest fights.
His down-to-earth charm, as well as his tendency to dramatically gain and lose weight between fights, endeared him to fans across the world.
“Devastated. A legend, a warrior, and a great person,” said former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney on X.
Hatton was open about the mental health issues he endured upon his retirement from the ring.
“As fighters, we tell ourselves we’re strong — we train, we sweat, we take hits, we get up. But sometimes the hardest fight happens in silence, in the mind,” Khan added on X. “Mental health isn’t weakness. It’s part of being human. And we must talk about it. We must reach out. We must lean on each other.”