Connect with us

Boxing

Ricky Hatton funeral: Thousands mourn boxer in Manchester

Published

on

Copy Link

Manchester will finally say goodbye to one of its most beloved sporting heroes when two-division world champion Ricky Hatton is laid to rest on Friday.

Hatton, a popular larger-than-life figure who unified the welterweight division and also won the world welterweight title, was found dead at the age of 46 at his home in Hyde on September 14.

The funeral procession will start at 9.45am BST from the Cheshire Cheese Pub – Hatton’s venue – and make its way to Manchester Cathedral, with thousands of people lining the streets to reflect on his life and times.

The procession includes stops at Hatton’s boxing gym and the AO Arena, where he had some of his best nights, with the highlight undoubtedly being his victory over the celebrated Kostya Tszyu on a raucous evening 20 years ago to win his first world title.

After a private memorial service at noon, a memorial march will head to the Etihad Stadium, home of Hatton’s beloved Manchester City.

The news of Hatton’s death was announced just hours before the Manchester derby at Eastlands Stadium, and just before kick-off, City and United players and fans reacted with a minute’s applause.

It was just one of countless tributes paid to “Hitman”, including from former world heavyweight champions Frank Bruno, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, fellow Briton Amir Khan, venerable foe Manny Pacquiao and Hatton’s hero Roberto Duran.

Hatton’s action-packed style earned him 45 wins and three losses in 48 contests, but it was his down-to-earth demeanor that particularly endeared him to fellow professionals and fans around the world.

Proof of this was the tens of thousands who followed him to Las Vegas, where he fought two of the best pound-for-pound fighters of his era, Floyd Mayweather and Pacquiao, and stories of British fans chanting “there’s only one Ricky Hatton” and drinking Sin City became boxing folklore.

Hatton suffered his first professional defeat when he was stopped by Mayweather in 2007, and a brutal second-round knockout by Pacquiao two years later hastened his decline from top-level boxing.

A failed comeback attempt against Vyacheslav Senchenko in 2012 was the first public admission that Hatton was struggling to cope in retirement.

He was a tireless ambassador for mental health charities, as well as Manchester-based Barnabus, which supports homeless and vulnerable people, and in a bid to fill the void, he became a successful trainer.

After participating in a scoreless match against Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera in 2022, Hatton announced in July that he would return to the ring in a professional fight in Dubai in December.

He returned to training and his family said he was “in a good place” and “excited about the future” before his death, in what Greater Manchester Police said were no suspicious circumstances.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Boxing

Paulie Malignaggis Insightful Verdict on Manny Pacquiao vs Shakur Stevenson Fight

Published

on

Paulie Malignaggi's Insightful Verdict on Manny Pacquiao vs Shakur Stevenson Fight

Paulie Malignaggi has offered his reaction to a reported clash between Shakur Stevenson and Manny Pacquiaowhich could feature on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua.

The all-British heavyweight showdown is expected to take place on December 11, headlining an event at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

That is, of course, if Fury and Joshua actually make it to the ring, as despite it being announced earlier this week, The Ring’s Mike Coppinger has since reported that their fight is in jeopardy.

Prior to that, it had emerged that an encounter between Stevenson and Pacquiao – between whom there is a near two-decade age gap – was being planned for the same night in Wales.

Should it come to fruition, this would represent Stevenson’s first outing since signing with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, who he joined after dethroning Teofimo Lopez with a unanimous decision victory in January.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, has not fought since his draw with Mario Barrios in July 2025, when he ended a near four-year layoff and almost claimed the WBC welterweight title.

Yet despite that surprisingly impressive performance, former world champion Malignaggi has emphasised on his YouTube channel that, against Stevenson, the 47-year-old would be facing an entirely different competitor.

“Manny Pacquiao-Shakur Stevenson has no place on this card; [it] has no place in big-time boxing. I am completely befuddled.

“[I’m] disappointed in Stevenson; [I’m] disappointed in Zuffa, obviously. These are ‘click bait’ type of fights. These are names that draw attention, so you can get people to watch. Then the fight’s a dud and all these casuals sit there complaining about boxing, telling you why boxing’s dead.”

Malignaggi went on to credit Pacquiao with being “competitive against the worst world champion I’ve ever seen in my life”, emphasising a considerable difference between Barrios and Stevenson.

Continue Reading

Boxing

Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton Scorecard Analysis: Key Highlights and Insights

Published

on

"Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton Scorecard Analysis: Key Highlights and Insights"

World Boxing News provides a round-by-round scorecard as Johnny Fisher faces Michael Pirotton at the Copper Box Arena in London.

Fisher and Pirotton collide over ten rounds at heavyweight as Zuffa Boxing stages its latest card in the United Kingdom.

The Romford Bull returns to action with Pirotton standing in his way as the British heavyweight looks to continue his climb.

WBN provides a live scorecard of the contest below, plus live results throughout the event.


Fisher vs Pirotton Scorecard

Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton

(Round-by-round scorecard will refresh every 2 mins)

Heavyweight
Copper Box Arena, London
10×3


Round Fisher Pirotton
Round 1 10 9
Round 2 10 9
Round 3 9 10
Round 4 9 10
Round 5 10 9
Round 6 10 9
Round 7 10 9
Round 8 10 9
Round 9 10 9
Round 10 10 9
WBN Totals: 98 92

Official Result: FISHER MD – 98-92, 96-95, 95-95


Zuffa Boxing

Preview

Fisher faces Pirotton in the first fight of his lucrative deal with Dana White and Zuffa Boxing.

The Briton enters the contest with a 14-1 record, while Pirotton brings a 12-2 record into the Zuffa Boxing 11 bout.

The event is available live on Sky in the United Kingdom and Paramount+.

The Fisher vs Pirotton event unfolds alongside more live coverage on World Boxing News.


About the Author

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.

Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.

Continue Reading

Boxing

Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton Results: Latest Fight Outcome and Highlights

Published

on

Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton Results: Latest Fight Outcome and Highlights

World Boxing News provides results and updates as Johnny Fisher faces Michael Pirotton on Zuffa Boxing 11 at the Copper Box Arena in London.

Fisher returns to heavyweight action over ten rounds against Pirotton as part of Zuffa Boxing’s latest event in the United Kingdom.

Craig Richards faces Radivoje Kalajdzic at light heavyweight, while Lee Cutler takes on Louis Greene and Cesar Mateo Tapia faces Leo Ruiz at middleweight.

WBN provides results and updates from every bout as they happen.


Results

All times are local BST.

23:41

Johnny Fisher defeated Michael Pirotton by majority decision after ten competitive heavyweight rounds at the Copper Box Arena. WBN scored the fight 98-92 for Fisherwhile the official judges returned scores of 98-92 and 96-95 for Fisher, with the third scoring it 95-95.

22:42

Radivoje Kalajdzic improved to 31-3 with a unanimous decision over Craig Richards, who dropped to 20-5-1 after a good ten-round scrap. Both men had their moments and hurt each other at times before “Hot Rod” got the verdict on the scorecards, which included knocking Richards down for the first time in his career.

21:43

Lee Cutler carded a unanimous decision win over Louis Greene in their ten-round middleweight clash. Judges scorecard 98-92 and 97-93 twice in favor on Cutler, who improves to 17-2.

20:52

Ahead of the three main bouts, Zuffa’s only female fighter, Kayla Allendefeated Edina Kiss via TKO in their super lightweight bout.

20:32

Leo Ruiz overcame Cesar Tapia over 10 rounds at middleweight, scoring a unanimous decision to move to 18-1 as Ruiz Tapia suffered a first loss.

19:29

Alex MacMillan moved to 5-0 with a second-round stoppage of Guillaume Azagier, who went down twice in the opening round and again before the finish at 0:32 of the second.

18:40

Rogelio Romero improved to 7-0 with a third-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Aurel Ignat, ending the cruiserweight contest at 2:12.

18:24

Alexis De la Cerda improved to 10-0 with a unanimous decision over Cain Lewis, taking the eight-round contest 80-72, 79-74 and 79-73.

17:42

Fred Pullen marked his professional debut with a four-round points victory over Leonardo Faretina, who was dropped in the second round.


Remaining Bouts

Johnny Fisher vs. Michael Pirotton — 10 rounds, heavyweight

Craig Richards vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic — 10 rounds, light heavyweight


TV Coverage

The event is available live on Sky in the United Kingdom and Paramount+.

Follow WBN’s live boxing coverage throughout the event.


About the Author

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.

Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe Us To Receive Our Latest News Directly In Your Inbox!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Trending