Ricky Hatton's ex-girlfriend Claire Sweeney pays tribute after boxer's death

Ricky Hatton's ex-girlfriend Claire Sweeney has paid tribute to the former boxer after he was found dead on Sunday morning.

Tributes have poured in for Hatton, 46, who had a decorated career in the sport.

His body was found at his home in Hyde, and police are not treating the death as suspicious.

Sweeney, who met Hatton on ITV's Dancing on Ice last year, wrote on Instagram: "I've needed a few days to process the devastating news about my dear friend Ricky.

"My thoughts are with his family especially his children Campbell, Millie, Fearne and Lyla, his granddaughter.

"To them, Speaky (Paul Speak) and to all his friends who loved him so deeply and for so many years I send you my deepest sympathy. Ricky, you were the people's champ.

"We adored and cherished you. Love you always."

The death of the popular boxer has rocked the boxing community, and tributes have been flooding in since his death.

Hatton had announced he was coming out of retirement for an exhibition bout on 2 December, in Dubai.

That would have marked 13 years since his last professional contest.

Hatton, from Manchester, enjoyed a glittering career at the height of the sport and was admired for his aggressive, exciting style.

He won multiple world championships at light-welterweight and one at welterweight.

In 2007, he flew thousands of fans over for his blockbuster fight with Floyd Mayweather, the first loss of his career, and later Manny Pacquiao, in which he was knocked out in the second round by the Filipino great.

Sky News sport correspondent Rob Harris called Hatton "one of the great personalities of British boxing".

He said: "As he would travel around the world, winning fights, he would bring that huge fan base with him… To have the career he had, with 45 victories and three defeats, was impressive...

"This will be devastating to many boxing fans and particularly his family, given it was just weeks before he was due to make his comeback… So many people will be reflecting on just what a contribution and what an icon he was to British boxing and just how he could seem so ordinary as well, while still achieving great sporting heights".

In his last professional bout, Hatton suffered a knockout loss to Ukraine's Vyacheslav Senchenko in November 2012.

He became an ambassador for mental health and was open about his struggles with depression.

Messages from around the world in sport paid tribute to Hatton, who was famed for a spectacular left-hook body shot.

Retired and active boxers, including Amir Khan, Tyson Fury, Chris Eubank Jr and Barry McGuigan, paid their tributes, but so did football legends Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen and David Beckham.

His boyhood team, Manchester City, paid tribute before their 3-0 win over rivals Manchester United with a minute's applause.

City player Phil Foden, who scored in the win, said afterwards: "It was for him and his family. It was all for him and we are delighted with the result."

(c) Sky News 2025: Ricky Hatton's ex-girlfriend Claire Sweeney pays tribute after boxer's death