EXCLUSIVE: Boxer Ricky Hatton was found dead at his home in Greater Manchester, with the police saying the death is not being treated as suspicious
Boxer Ricky Hatton was ‘doing so well’ a few weeks before his tragic death aged 46, says pal Robin Johnstone. The Dancing On Ice star was found dead at his home in Greater Manchester, with the police confirming that a body was found and said that the death is not being treated as suspicious.
A police cordon remains in place at Hatton’s home in Gee Cross, Hyde. He would have turned 47 next month and leaves behind three children including his son Campbell, who also boxed professionally before retiring earlier this year.
The police confirmed: “We can confirm that we have found a body at an address on Bowlacre Road in Gee Cross at 6.45am today, Sunday, September 14. The death is not being treated as suspicious.”
READ MORE: David Beckham heartbroken as he shares emotional Ricky Hatton tribute – ‘Special in many ways’READ MORE: Ricky Hatton said ‘helping others is my medicine’ in emotional final Mirror interview
Ricky and Robin were partnered up in Dancing On Ice(Image: Kieron McCarron/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Following his death, his Dancing On Ice partner, Robin Johnstone, revealed he was ‘doing so well’ in the weeks before his death.
“He’d been doing so well. He was talking about getting ready for his big fight and was all excited… it’s very shocking. He was really sweet,” she said to The Mirror.
“Such a good guy. My last memory of him is him looking out at me on the ice during Torvill and Deane’s show, with his girls and his eyes were just lit up, he was so excited to watch us, as were his girls. His kids were everything to him.”
Ricky died aged 46(Image: Getty Images)
Ricky Hatton holding his MBE at Buckingham Palace(Image: PA)
While the former welterweight and light-welterweight world boxing champion officially retired from the sport in November 2012 with a record of 45-3, only suffering defeat to the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr, Manny Pacquiao and Vyacheslav Senchenko, he announced his comeback to the squared circle in June.
The famous boxer was set to face UAE fighter Eisa Al Dah at middleweight on December 2 in Dubai.
Ricky was due to fly out to a press conference to announce the bout, but had to remain at home after sustaining an eye injury during an Oasis reunion concert in Cardiff.
While he didn’t attend in person, he showed up via a video call and said: “I’m very much looking forward to it myself, to be honest with you.
“What you’re trying to do there for boxing in Dubai is fantastic.”
Coronation Street’s Claire Sweeney – who enjoyed a romance with him last year – took to Instagram to share a video of the announcement, writing alongside it: “This is brilliant.”
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YouTuber Joe Sugg and Strictly professional dancer Dianne Buswell are getting ready to grow their family, as they took to Instagram on Sunday evening to announce that they were expecting a baby.
As well as revealing the huge news, they also shared the gender of the baby as Joe said: “Our little baby boy, we cannot wait to meet you”.
The loved-up couple announced the news with a funny video of them painting a picture in their house. The camera shows them pulling faces as they concentrated on the task at hand before they revealed their joint artwork.
They then showed the image to the camera which revealed Joe and Dianne as stick people with a stick baby in the middle.
Fans and friend’s couldn’t contain their excitement for the announcement as Joe’s brother in law Alfie Deyes wrote: “Sooo excited for you both! The family is growinggg”, while Stacey Dooley penned: “YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES”.
Joe Sugg and Dianne Buswell are expecting their first baby ( Iinstagram)
The camera shows them pulling faces as they concentrated on the task at hand before they revealed their joint artwork ( Iinstagram)
One fan of the couple wrote: “Omggggggg I’m so happy for you both that I’m commenting like I know you, but it really is that exciting. Huge congratulations”, while another said: “Omg!!!!!!!!!! Congratulation! Baby buzz and sugg is coming!”.
The Strictly Come Dancing official Instagram page wrote: “So happy for you both! Huge congratulations from the whole Strictly family”. Kevin Clifton also shared: “Omg guys!!!! Congratulations.!!! Im so happy for u”.
Dianne has spoken about having children in the past and previously told Closer: “I think definitely at one point we’ll have children”, she revealed, “it’s something we’d both love, but we don’t know when just yet.
“We always say our kids are going to watch YouTube videos of us dancing one day, and that’s so cool!”
During a Q&A with her fans, Dianne also said: “We love being aunt and uncle for our beautiful nieces and nephew for now, but yes one day we would love it.”
The couple met when they were paired up on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018 and viewers were able to see the on-screen chemistry between the pair ( Iinstagram)
The couple are expecting their first child ( Getty Images for BAFTA)
The couple met when they were paired up on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018 and viewers were able to see the on-screen chemistry between the pair.
Confirming their romance after the show wrapped, Joe gushed: “I may not have won the glitter ball, but I’ve won something a million times more special.”
Since then, Strictly fans have enjoyed seeing Dianne and Joe’s relationship go from strength-to-strength on social media as they regularly share loved-up snaps on their romantic getaways, with their families – including Joe’s famous older sister, Zoe Sugg.
In 2021, the couple bought their first home together and now fans will no doubt be excited to hear more on their pregnancy journey.
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When it comes to the ongoing feud between Prince William and Prince Harry, there is one thing that Princess Kate and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, are bound to have realised, a royal expert explains
Meghan and Kate face a bleak reality about William and Harry’s feud – expert(Image: Getty Images)
All eyes were on Prince Harry during his recent visit to the UK, which saw him finally reunite with King Charles in person after 19 months.
Ahead of the father-and-son reunion, there was much speculation about whether Harry would see any of his royal relatives during his visit home, amid his busy schedule of engagements with the charities he supports.
In the end, Harry spent just under an hour with his father at the monarch’s London residence, Clarence House, but he did not see his older brother, Prince William, while he was on home soil. Despite the fact that the two brothers were only seven miles apart at one stage, conducting separate engagements.
With the icy relationship between the once-close siblings showing no sign of thawing anytime soon, a royal expert has exclusively told the Mirror about the difficult realisation Princess Kate and Meghan are likely to have had about the warring brothers.
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Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond explained: “I think Catherine and Meghan recognise that this is something the brothers have to work out between them.”
The royal expert explained that while royal fans are bound to be pleased to see Harry take steps towards reconciliation with his father amid the King’s ongoing health challenges, mending things with William is likely going to be more complicated.
In part, Jennie explained, this is might be compounded by the fact that while Harry exited royal life and moved to California, William has remained behind, carrying out his duties as heir to the throne even during an incredibly difficult period in his personal life, with his wife Kate undergoing cancer treatment.
William “has stood by his father through the past few tough years,” said Jennie, “he has stood IN for his father when needed, and he has stood UP for his father, declaring they are ‘very much not a racist family’.”
The comment that the royals were not “a racist family” came after Harry and Meghan’s bombshell sit-down with Oprah in 2021, where the couple alleged that “concerns” were raised by royals about what Prince Archie’s skin colour would be.
The expert noted that all of this combined could have potentially raised some “resentment” for William that his brother was back in town, and meeting up with their father.
“I’m sure the King would have told William in advance about his decision to meet Harry,” Jennie said, “But William wouldn’t be human if he didn’t feel some resentment about Harry flying back for a headline-grabbing few days, very publicly handing out dosh to charities (which is something the rest of the Royal Family do regularly – but discreetly) and strutting his stuff…while his brother does the day to day grip and grin business of the royal workload?”
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The expert added that she thought it was possible that a reconciliation between Harry and William might “never happen” after years of allegations lobbied publicly at the royals and their staff by the Sussexes.
“Time may yet prove the great healer, but where William is concerned, now is certainly not the right time for reconciliation with his sibling. Indeed, it may never happen.”
EXCLUSIVE: Boxing icon Ricky Hatton was found dead at the age of 46 leaving behind a son and two daughters – while fans and fellow stars have shared their sadness over his death
Ricky Hatton’s Dancing On Ice partner has shared her shock and devastation over his sudden death. The sporting and entertainment worlds were rocked on Sunday when it was revealed the boxing legend had been found dead at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester.
The sportsman, who held multiple world championships in the light-welterweight division, and one at welterweight, in the real of boxing, was aged 46. In 2024, Ricky was partnered with Canadian professional skater Robin Johnstone when they competed on ITV’s Dancing On Ice.
While the pair’s time on the show was short lived – as they were the first couple to be voted off the sixteenth season – a firm friendship was formed between them. Robin has now spoken out to share her shock and sadness over Ricky’s death.
READ MORE: Ricky Hatton dies aged 46 as British boxing icon found at homeREAD MORE: Ricky Hatton dead: Manchester City pay tribute to ‘loved and revered’ fan after sad death
Ricky and Robin were the first to be eliminated in the 2024 season but remained firm friends(Image: Kieron McCarron/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Speaking to The Mirror, Robin opened up about her friendship with Ricky, revealing: “We’d speak every couple of weeks.. I think we Whatsapped a week or two ago. I mean we stayed in touch after DOI – he’d check in with my husband Andy [Buchanan] and I all the time.”
Giving more details about their connection, she continued: “Out of all my partners on the show, we kept in touch the most.”
She revealed: “He was in training mode and seemed in such good form, he was asking how we were… we were on the Torvill and Dean tour, and his girls came with him to see the show. We’ve met his girls quite a few times.”
News of Ricky’s tragic death emerged on Sunday. In a statement, police confirmed that his death was not being treated as suspicious.
“Officers were called by a member of the public to attend Bowlacre Road, Hyde, Tameside, at 6:45am today where they found the body of a 46-year-old man,” it read. “There are not currently believed to be any suspicious circumstances.”
The boxing star was found dead at the age of 46 on Sunday(Image: No credit)
Ricky is survived by his son Campbell, 24, and daughters Millie, 13, and Fearne, 12.
Many have taken to social media to share their sadness over the sport star’s death. Tyson Fury posted on Instagram: “Rip to the legend @rickyhatton may he rip. There will only ever be 1 Ricky hatton. can’t believe this so young.” Frank Bruno wrote on X: “What can I say I’m absolutely devastated. RIP My friend.”
Robin Johnstone has opened up about her friendship with the late Ricky Hatton(Image: PA)
And in a heartfelt, lengthy tribute, Amir Khan spoke candidly about his mental health issues. “Today we lost not only one of Britain’s greatest boxers, but a friend, a mentor, a warrior, Ricky Hatton.
“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. 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.
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“Ricky, thank you for everything. For your fights, your moments of glory, your grit. Thank you for pushing us, showing us what’s possible. To everyone reading this: if you’re hurting or struggling, you are not alone.
“Talk. Reach out. Because we need more light, more compassion, more understanding. Rest well, Ricky. You’ll always have your place in the ring of our memories.”
The boxing legend was found dead at his home in Manchester in the early hours of Sunday (14 September) morning, leaving behind his three children and devastated boxing fans
Ricky Hatton with his lookalike son Campbell Hatton(Image: Getty Images)
Ricky Hatton, known as The Hitman, has left the boxing world in mourning after it emerged that he had been found dead at his home. He sadly leaves behind his three children: Campbell, 24, Millie, 13, and Fearne, 12.
Crowned a world champion in 2005, the boxing legend won titles at light-welterweight and welterweight before retiring in 2011 with a record of 45 wins and two defeats. During his career, the 46 year old openly spoke about his struggle with depression and alcohol and spent time in a rehabilitation clinic.
Earlier this year, Hatton announced his comeback bout after more than a decade out of boxing, and was set to take on United Arab Emirates boxer Eisa Al Dah in Dubai on December 2. Tragically, on Sunday, 14 September, Greater Manchester Police confirmed a body had been discovered at Hatton’s residence and that the death was not being treated as suspicious.
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Ricky Hatton has died at 46(Image: Getty Images)
A spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we have found a body at an address on Bowlacre Road in Gee Cross at 6.45am today, Sunday, September 14. The death is not being treated as suspicious.”
Here, we take a look at his family life, including his beloved children, whom he sadly leaves behind.
Hatton grew up on a council estate in Hyde, Manchester. After having trials for Rochdale football club, he joined a boxing club in order to defend himself from bullies at school.
His younger brother Matthew, 44, also fought professionally and held the European welterweight title from 2010 to 2011. However, it was Ricky who went on to become a household name.
Hatton family: L to R, Jenna (Matthew’s girlfriend) Ricky, Matthew, Carol, Ray and former fiancée Jennifer
The boxer encountered many tough challenges outside of the ring. He faced mental health struggles and had a rocky relationship with his parents, Carol and Ray Hatton, following a reported row over money. In September 2012, Ray Hatton, then 61, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting his son.
He was given a police caution following the incident outside his son’s Greater Manchester gym on Market Street, Hyde. It is understood that Ricky Hatton had to protect himself during a heated row in the car park, but was not injured.
Hatton told the Manchester Evening News in 2019: “Ultimately, when I fell out with my parents, I hit rock bottom. I didn’t care whether I lived or died, to be honest with you. A few of my school friends are the same age as me, their parents were having heart attacks, and I was going to their funerals.
Ricky Hatton with his brother, Matthew Hatton (L) and his father, Ray Hatton (R), during a training session (Image: Getty Images)
“And I thought to myself, ‘I’m 40 now, I’m at an age where our parents might not be here much longer’. So if their parents are getting ill and passing away and all that, it’s not going to be long before mine go. I just made the effort to think, ‘listen, you know, let bygones be bygones, leave things in the past. That’s it’.”
Hatton reconciled with his parents in 2019 but the fragile relationship was hit again – following the release of Sky documentary ‘Hatton’.
His mum, Carol, shared a letter with the Mail Online in 2023 that she had written. She said: “I must’ve rewrote this letter, changed it time and time again, not wanting anyone to think that I was slating my son. Every time I read it, I still get upset because I’m hurting.
“Me and Ray are on our last lap. Nobody knows what’s around the corner. How would he feel if anything happened to either of us? There’s an old saying, ‘If he can’t come see me when I’m alive, don’t come when I’m dead with your tears’.”
Hatton and his daughter Fearne
Hatton began his own family at the tender age of 22.
In 2001, Hatton’s eldest son Campbell was born following a short-lived reconciliation with Hatton’s ex-girlfriend Claire. He later became a father to Millie and Fearne during his relationship with former fiancée Jennifer Dooley.
Ricky also had a granddaughter named Lyla. He and Jennifer split in 2016.
His son Campbell, 24, followed his father’s footsteps and made his professional boxing debut in 2021. He recorded his first knockout victory over Attila Csereklye later that year.
Campbell won all of his opening 14 fights before back-to-back defeats at the hands of James Flint in 2024. He appointed his father as his trainer in March, but four months later, it was confirmed that Hatton junior had hung up his boxing gloves.
The boxer with his son Campbell Hatton(Image: Instagram/rickyhitmanhatton)
Ricky was most recently in a relationship with actress Claire Sweeney. The pair became close after they both appeared on the 2024 season of Dancing On Ice.
Claire previously said of their romance: “We always passed each other at events, we did a TV show together, first of all I met him in La Manga in the early 2000s and then we did dance for Comic Relief together in 2013 and then met on Dancing On Ice. It’s been great.”
The pair have known each other for years. Hatton added: “It’s amazing [to find] someone you’ve probably known for 25 years. I’ve been in relationships and she’s been in relationships. I’ve had my kids and she’s had her kids. And then 25 years later we found each other. It’s quite a nice story.”
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They soon split afterwards, but Claire previously said: “We’re still friends, we were friends, we dated and now we’re friends again. It’s all good.”
Boxing legend Ricky Hatton met TV actress Claire Sweeney backstage while rehearsing for Dancing On Ice back last year. And here is their love story in pictures
Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton was loved by many across the world due to his charm and charisma. And within his short life, the boxing legend had also won the hearts of many women.
The last women to fall for his magnetic charm was TV and theatre actress Claire Sweeney who fell for the boxing legend when they both appeared on Dancing On Ice last year.
The pair had formed a friendship that spanned over 25 years but it was only during rehearsals of the ITV skating show, that their platonic relationship turned romantic.
At the time it was reported that they had started dating in secret, away from the prying eyes of the world before going public with their romance during a holiday to Tenerife.
At the time, a source told The Sun: “They became friends on Dancing On Ice and really hit it off. It’s since become romantic and they’ve enjoyed a few dates. It’s early days but they’ve got a spark and have been having a great time.”
However their relationship did not stand the test of time and the pair called it quits. Confirming the end of their relationship Claire said: “We’re still friends, we were friends, we dated and now we’re friends again. It’s all good.”
Here we take a look at their brief love life in pictures.
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