New information regarding British legend’s tragic passing.
Ricky Hatton is very likely the most beloved British boxer of the post-2000s, and it can be argued that he is the most loved regardless of what time you’re talking about.
The Mancunian legend was known as “The Hitman”, and he gained a reputation as one of the most fearsome body punchers in boxing’s long history.
By the time he got his first shot at a world title in June of 2005, he was already 39-0 and had represented the now-dissolved WBU by making 15 successful defences of their super-lightweight title.
But after making all-time great Kostya Tszyu retire on his stool (and from boxing as a whole, as it would turn out) after 11 rounds, Hatton became the IBF and The Ring super-lightweight champion.
He would go on to become welterweight world champion and score terrific victories in America, knocking out José Luis Castillo and being the first to drop the Mexican in 64 fights.
Hatton would also take on the two very best fighters of the time in Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. Despite losing to both, his fanbase showed out in full force, storming America in support of their champion.
Very, very sadly, Hatton’s life came to an end on the 14th of September, 2025. The British icon, who was so open about his struggles with mental health, was ruled to have died by hanging.
However, an inquest into Hatton’s passing has shed some new light on the case, as a coroner has now ruled that what happened on that terrible September morning may not be so clear-cut.
South Manchester senior coroner Alison Mutch found that Hatton had twice the drink-drive limit of alcohol in his system, and the 46-year-old’s family reported him as being the best “in years” in terms of his struggles.
In addition, Hatton had taken his daughters and granddaughter out for a pub meal two days prior to his death, and he had appeared normal. Not only that, but Hatton had told them he would see them soon after his trip to the United Arab Emirates, where he was scheduled to make a return to the boxing ring.
Cocaine and cannabis were also found in Hatton’s system, and a post-mortem examination of his brain found evidence of chronic traumatic ecephalopathy (CTE), a condition caused by repeated blows to the head so often suffered by those who take part in combat sports such as boxing.
Mutch told Stockport Coroner’s Court that Hatton had written no sort of note before his death and that police had found no evidence he was planning to take his own life.
“I have listened very carefully to all the evidence”, Mutch said. “When I add everything together, I cannot be satisfied he intended to take his own life.
“Therefore,” continued Mutch, “it is not possible in law for me to conclude [the death was a] suicide.”
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