Ricky Hatton has never been a polished type of star. It was not created for velvet ropes or supple tributes. He was a manchester to the bone-loyal, steadfast working class. And four days before his death at the age of 46, he said, most importantly for him, he wanted to be remembered as “one of the boys.”
The man we knew Hitman He was found dead at his house in Manchester on Sunday, September 14. The shock was broken by British boxing and more. He spent decades, throwing hooks that made the arenas shake, but what he wanted was no more belts or headers. It belonged – beloved like Frank Bruno, loved by his own city and accepted by fans who saw him.
He added: “I would prefer to be Ricky Hatton than the greatest in history, but everyone thinks I’m advertising.” For a warrior who packed 22,000 on the men’s arena and 30,000 in Las Vegas, he says it all. People remember me as a hell warrior, but also one of the boys. “
Fame has never changed the kid from the property
Hatton told Barker that his life remained close to his roots even after glory. “Life has changed for me, my children and my family when I defeated Kostya Teszyu. But I don’t think I changed too much. Even today, the salary I lead, and the house I have is only 10 minutes from the council’s assets.
“Even with all the frigid things that I achieved through boxing, I still go to local and play darts on Monday evening and play football for veterinarians on Sunday afternoon. My colleagues are now the same colleagues with whom I went to school, without slow newcomers, always the same colleagues.”
This stubborn loyalty – towards pubs, partners, to Manchester City, to the same venerable streets – was what the fans felt. He was a hero who could enter every pub and did not have to buy a mug. Children who have never seen how he fights live, still stop him for photos because they saw clips and sensed reality.
Fighting with your own shadows, helping others with them
Hatton did not hide this life after boxing. Losses for Mayweather and Pacquiao left scars and then depression. But he refused to stay. He got aid. Then he used his pain to aid others.
“I didn’t want to tell my colleagues or family, I didn’t want to worry them, so I kept it,” he told Barker. “I entered the gym or in a pub and I was the life and soul of the party, even more than normal, because I tried to excessively compensate for what was happening in me.
“Nobody knew and it was very arduous. I thought I could sort it, but I couldn’t. The best thing I did was that I realized that I could beat him or him, I could do it or do it, but I couldn’t sort it myself and I had to talk to someone and the best thing I did.
“You feel that you can talk to a stranger better than your family or friends. You don’t go to boys – and I have good colleagues – but you don’t feel like that. I did with my mother and dad and I split with my Missus and I didn’t want to worry about the rest of the family. So you keep it and I didn’t hold it.”
After obtaining aid, Hatton used his experience to aid others. “Some of my boxers tell me that they repaid their mortgages and thanked me – that’s what it is about,” he said. Letters came from people who heard his story and found hope. This gave him the goal: “It makes me feel good that I helped others.”
A warrior who never left us
Hatton did not want statues or saint. He wanted to be a boy from the street who made him huge, but he never looked at anyone. It’s uncommon in boxing – or anywhere. Or maybe that’s why the news of his death crosses so deeply.
He survived brutal nights, public defeats, private battles, and he still found strength to tell an intimidated child to keep his chin a few days before leaving. If this is not the size, what is it?
Rest straightforward, Ricky. You were one of us – and you will always be one of the boys.
Watch a full interview:
Amy Kaplan is a box of boxing since she was 10 years venerable, which means that she spent most of her life, explaining to people that yes, they really prefer nights of fighting at parties. Now, writing to Boxing News 24, it covers everything from the fight for the title of world champion to perspectives swinging as at the day of payment. It combines acute analysis with sarcasm, calling for boxing policy and crossing the spin with the release of the press to give fans stories that actually matter.
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.
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.
World Boxing News provides results and updates as Liam Davies faces Nathaniel Collins in the main event at bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham.
Davies and Collins collide over 12 rounds for the EBU European featherweight title at the top of the Queensberry Promotions card.
Luke McCormack faces Kay Prospere for the vacant British super lightweight title, while Bradley Goldsmith takes on Amir Abubaker for the IBF International middleweight title.
WBN provides results and updates from every bout as they happen.
Results
All times are local BST.
23:11
Gerome Warburton defeated Nathan Heaney for the second time running as the middleweight put an exclamation mark on his first victory.
Heaney walks away from the sport having been an entertainer through a long carer, without reaching the heights of a world title.
22:04
Liam Davies improved to 19-1 after Nathaniel Collins retired at the end of the seventh round due to a cut over his right eye. Collins had also been dropped in the opening round as Davies successfully defended the European featherweight title.
21:22
Bradley Goldsmith improved to 17-1 with a seventh-round stoppage of Amir Abubaker to retain his IBF International middleweight title. Abubaker went down in the fourth and three times in the seventh before the finish at 2:42.
20:10
Lewis Richardson improved to 3-0 with a shutout six-round points victory over Ivan Trofimovich, earning a 60-54 decision.
19:56
Luke McCormack moved to 6-0 and claimed the vacant British super lightweight title with a tenth-round knockout of Kay Prospere, who was counted out after a right uppercut at 1:28.
18:55
Michael Hussain moved to 5-0 with a four-round points victory over Nabil Ahmed, earning a 39-38 decision.
18:11
Nelson Birchall moved to 12-0 with a third-round stoppage of Lewis Morris, who went down before the finish came at 1:12. Lasha Guruli also remained unbeaten at 5-0 after edging Hughie Wilson 77-75 over eight rounds.
17:22
Early action saw John Tom Varey and Reese Lynch claim four-round victories to move to 3-0 and 5-0 respectively.
TV Coverage
DAZN provides full worldwide coverage.
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.
