Former world champion boxer Ricky Hatton has died at the age of 46, leaving the sporting world in mourning.
Tributes have poured in for the Manchester native, with former Manchester United and England star Wayne Rooney calling the news “heartbreaking” and “devastating.”
Hatton, a beloved figure in British boxing, was found dead at his Manchester home on Sunday.
Rooney, who famously carried Hatton’s belts into the ring before his 2007 victory over Jose Luis Castillo in Las Vegas, spoke about his relationship with the fighter on “The Wayne Rooney Show.”
“Ricky was such a good lad and a good person,” Rooney said. “He is someone who captured the nation… they followed him all around the world.”
The former footballer, 39, expressed his condolences to Hatton’s family, saying the death came “way too soon.” He shared that he learned of the news just after playing in a Manchester United legends match in South Korea, and that the reality of it had “not fully kicked in.”
Rooney also recalled the immense pressure he felt walking out with Hatton, who was undefeated at the time, before the Castillo fight. “It was one of the most nervous I have ever been,” he said, joking that he worried if the outcome of the fight would be “my fault.” Hatton went on to win with a stunning fourth-round knockout.
Describing Hatton as “relatable and good fun to be around,” Rooney’s tribute joins a chorus of messages from across the country remembering a man widely known as the “people’s champion.”
