Tribute: Respected and loved, Ricky Hatton helped Tyson Fury overcome his demons but could not beat his own

The Hitman’s passing will hit the boxing community hard , not to mention his many friends and family.

Hatton was the man from a Greater Manchester council estate, a Manchester City fanatic and once promising footballer who went on to realise many boyhood dreams in the ring, achieving iconic status along the way.

He won world titles, fought the best of the best, and took his huge army of travelling fans to the USA for trips of a lifetime.

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Yet Hatton’s impact went deeper.

He was respected and adored beyond the boxing fraternity because, while he was an elite fighter, Hatton always retained his down-to-earth demeanour and humility.

For all he achieved in the ring, Hatton was still the same lad from Hattersley in Hyde who remained deeply grounded and indeed proud of his working-class roots.

Hatton would win world titles at both welterweight and light-welterweight and then be enjoying a few pints of Guinness with his mates down the local a day or two later.

A man of the people. His career itself was the stuff of fairytales in many ways.

At the peak of his powers, Hatton was one of Britain’s best fighters who competed in several high-profile clashes. 

In 2005, he defeated the brilliant Kostya Tszyu to become IBF light-welterweight champion in Manchester, and it was the best night of his career. 

Two years later came the iconic showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr, when the Mancunian’s extraordinarily brave bid to wrestle the WBC welterweight title from Mayweather ended when he was dramatically knocked out in the 10th round in Las Vegas.

Mayweather sent Hatton to the canvas via the ring post with a left hook.

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After Hatton, roared by thousands of travelling fans, clambered gamely to his feet, the champion finished the job with another huge left which sent Hatton stumbling backwards and then flat onto his back.

It was Hatton’s first defeat in a 44-fight career at the time.

Hatton came back to beat Paulie Malignaggi in 2008, coasting to a one-sided win at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, with his opponent's corner stopping the fight in round 11.

With Malignaggi behind on all three scorecards, his corner threw in the towel, much to the delight of Hatton and his famous huge army of travelling fans.

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He had joined up with new trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr just seven weeks earlier and delivered on his conviction that he was ready to discover his best form.

Malignaggi quickly discovered that against a reborn Hatton who, aged 30, took his fight record to 45 wins (32 KOs) and one defeat.

Who can forget his brutal bout with Manny Pacquiao in 2009?

The Hitman suffered a devastating second-round defeat in his IBO light-welterweight world title bout against the Mexican in Vegas.

Hatton was sent to canvas by a vicious right hook in the first round before being floored again by a left shortly before the bell.

He was then floored in devastating fashion in the second and counted out with one second remaining in the round.

The shattering defeat – just his second in 47 fights – left Hatton’s future in the sport in doubt.

On September 13, 2010, Hatton was admitted to The Priory for substance abuse to tackle a drink and depression problem.

Hatton found life tough and there were fall-outs with family members and a legal battle with Billy Graham, his former trainer.

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Hatton stayed involved in boxing as a trainer and manager, overseeing the development of his son Campbell, but the dark clouds refused to clear.

He spoke publicly earlier this year of his struggles, and how he offered fellow Mancunian Tyson Fury some sage advice when he went on a downward spiral.

Hatton said in May that he urged the heavyweight, who had ballooned to 25 stone at one point, to lay off the beer and work on himself.

Hatton said: “Bit by bit, Tyson started losing weight and before his comeback fight in Manchester he said ‘I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for you, Ricky’.

“Your health is your wealth and, bit by bit, his weight started going down so in the end he made his comeback.

“But from where he was – at 25 stone and wanting to kill himself as a former world heavyweight world champion – he went and became the heavyweight champion of the world again and had those massive fights with Deontay Wilder.

“For the heavyweight champion of the world to turn around and say I helped him; I’ve done a lot of things in boxing but that’s got to be up there for me.”

While he helped Fury overcome his demons, Hatton tragically struggled to beat his own.