History of Ricky Hatton in Timeline
Ricky Hatton, a British professional boxer active from 1997 to 2012, achieved considerable success, earning nicknames like "The Hitman" and "The People's Champion." He held multiple light-welterweight world championships and one welterweight title. Hatton received Fighter of the Year awards from The Ring, the Boxing Writers Association of America, and ESPN in 2005. Post-retirement, he transitioned into boxing promotion and training.
4 hours ago : Inquest Opened into Ricky Hatton's Death: Former Boxing Champion's Tragic Passing
An inquest into the death of former world champion boxer Ricky Hatton has been opened and adjourned. The inquest suggests that Hatton took his own life. The details surrounding the circumstances are being investigated further.
October 1978: Richard John Hatton's Birth
On October 6, 1978, Richard John Hatton was born in Stockport, Greater Manchester, and grew up in Hyde.
1996: AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships
In 1996, Hatton represented his country at the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships. His elimination in the semi-finals caused controversy.
September 1997: Professional Debut
On September 11, 1997, Hatton made his professional debut against Colin McAuley, winning by TKO in the first round.
1997: Hatton's Professional Debut
In 1997, Richard John Hatton began his professional boxing career.
1998: Boxing on the Undercard
In 1998, Hatton fought on the undercard of contests involving major British boxers, such as the two WBO cruiserweight title fights between Carl Thompson and Chris Eubank.
May 1999: WBO Inter-Continental Title
In May 1999, Hatton secured his first international title by defeating Dillon Carew for the WBO inter-continental light-welterweight title.
1999: Biggest Welterweight Fight
The fight between Hatton and Mayweather Jr on December 8, 2007, was considered to be the biggest welterweight fight since the 1999 clash between Oscar De La Hoya and Tito Trinidad.
2000: British Light Welterweight Title
In 2000, Hatton secured the British light welterweight title.
March 2001: WBU Title Claim
In March 2001, Hatton claimed the vacant WBU title, defeating Tony Pep.
2001: WBU Title Win
In 2001, Hatton claimed the World Boxing Union (WBU) title.
2001: Birth of Hatton's Son Campbell
In 2001, Ricky Hatton's son Campbell was born after a brief reconciliation with his ex-girlfriend, Claire. Hatton established a trust fund for Campbell and maintained a daily presence in his life.
2002: Castillo Nearly Beats Mayweather Jr.
In 2002, José Luis Castillo nearly beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. at lightweight, which motivated Hatton to move back down to light-welterweight.
2004: Fifteen WBU Defenses
From 2001 to 2004, Hatton made a record fifteen successful defenses of the WBU title.
June 2005: Defeating Kostya Tszyu
On June 5, 2005, Hatton defeated IBF and The Ring champion Kostya Tszyu by TKO, marking a significant entry into the world boxing scene.
November 2005: WBA Light-Welterweight Title
On November 26, 2005, Hatton secured the WBA light-welterweight title by defeating Carlos Maussa in the ninth round of a unification bout.
2005: Defeating Kostya Tszyu
In 2005, Hatton reached the pinnacle of his career by defeating Kostya Tszyu for the International Boxing Federation (IBF), Ring and lineal titles, followed by victory over Carlos Maussa for the World Boxing Association (WBA) title to become a unified light-welterweight world champion.
March 2006: Relinquishing IBF Title
On March 29, 2006, Hatton relinquished his IBF title to move up to the welterweight division and signed a three-fight contract with Dennis Hobson's fight academy.
May 2006: WBA Welterweight Title Win
On May 13, 2006, Hatton won the WBA welterweight title against Luis Collazo.
2006: Welterweight Debut
In 2006, Hatton made his welterweight debut and won against Luis Collazo for the WBA title in his second weight class.
January 2007: IBF Light-Welterweight Title Recapture
On January 20, 2007, Hatton won a twelve-round unanimous decision against Juan Urango to re-capture the IBF light-welterweight title and the vacant IBO title.
March 2007: Hatton Appears on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
In March 2007, Ricky Hatton appeared on the Friday Night with Jonathan Ross show.
June 2007: Defeat of Castillo
On June 23, 2007, Hatton defeated José Luis Castillo with a left hook to the liver, leading to Castillo being counted out for the first time in his career.
August 2007: Hatton Discusses Weight Gain on Loose Women
In August 2007, Ricky Hatton appeared on ITV's Loose Women and stated that the reason he put on weight between fights was because "I have a lot on my plate at the moment."
August 2007: Fight Announcement
On August 17, 2007, the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas was announced as the venue for the fight between Hatton and Mayweather Jr. that was going to be on December 8, 2007.
October 2007: Hatton Interviewed on Parkinson
On October 13, 2007, Ricky Hatton was interviewed on ITV1's Parkinson. He gifted Michael Parkinson custom-made boxing shorts with "Mike" and "Parky" written on them, featuring the Barnsley emblem. He also commented on Floyd Mayweather's arrogance.
December 2007: Fight Against Mayweather Jr.
On December 8, 2007, Hatton fought Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
2007: Loss Against Mayweather Jr.
In 2007, Hatton had his career-first defeat against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in an attempt to win the World Boxing Council (WBC), Ring and lineal welterweight titles and also won the vacant IBF title for a second time, as well as the International Boxing Organization (IBO) title.
2007: Hatton Receives MBE
In 2007, Ricky Hatton received the MBE for his services to sport.
May 2008: Victory Over Juan Lazcano
On May 24, 2008, Hatton defeated Juan Lazcano by UD in front of a record-breaking home crowd to retain The Ring and IBO light-welterweight titles.
November 2008: Defeat of Paulie Malignaggi
On November 22, 2008, Hatton defeated Paulie Malignaggi by eleventh-round TKO to retain The Ring light-welterweight title.
2008: Hatton's Family and Home Life in 2008
As of 2008, Ricky Hatton's mother, Carol, continued to work on the carpet stall at Glossop Market. His father, Ray, managed him and his brother Matthew. Ricky lived with his girlfriend, Jennifer Dooley, in his house named "Heartbreak Hotel" in Hyde.
2008: Hatton Hosts Ricky Speaks
In 2008, Ricky Hatton started hosting his own live chat show called Ricky Speaks on Nuts TV. Discussions about a potential rematch with Mayweather and a fight with Manny Pacquiao were underway.
2008: Hatton Referenced in GZA's "Paper Plate"
In 2008, Ricky Hatton, along with Floyd Mayweather, was referenced by the American rapper GZA on the track "Paper Plate" from his album Pro Tools.
May 2009: Hatton Fights Manny Pacquiao
In May 2009, Ricky Hatton fought Manny Pacquiao, who was the number one pound-for-pound fighter at the time.
November 2009: Hatton Hosts WWE Raw
On November 9, 2009, Ricky Hatton hosted the WWE Raw edition at the Sheffield Arena, and defeated professional wrestler Chavo Guerrero Jr. in a match.
2009: Loss Against Pacquiao
In 2009, Hatton lost his IBO, Ring and lineal light welterweight titles to Manny Pacquiao.
June 2010: Uncertainty About Boxing Future
In a June 2010 interview, Hatton expressed disinterest in returning to the ring.
September 2010: Hatton Enters Rehab for Substance Abuse
In September 2010, Ricky Hatton was admitted to The Priory rehabilitation facility in Roehampton, London, for substance abuse and clinical depression. This followed an incident where he was caught on camera apparently snorting cocaine.
September 2010: News of the World Publishes Cocaine Allegations
On September 12, 2010, The News of the World published a story alleging that Ricky Hatton was a regular cocaine user, including photos of him apparently using the drug. Hatton was reported to be "devastated" by the story.
2010: Doping Suspicions Against Pacquiao
In 2010, Hatton voiced suspicion that Pacquiao might have been using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).
2011: Hatton Announces Retirement
In 2011, Hatton announced his retirement from boxing.
September 2012: Hatton Confirms Boxing Comeback
In September 2012, Ricky Hatton confirmed his return to professional boxing with a fight scheduled for November. He underwent a significant weight transformation, reducing from approximately 98 kg to 67 kg to meet the welterweight limit for the fight.
2012: Hatton Confirms Comeback
In 2012, Hatton confirmed his boxing comeback after retiring in 2011.
2012: End of Hatton's Boxing Career
In 2012, Richard John Hatton concluded his boxing career. He later worked as a boxing promoter and trainer.
2012: Hatton's Estrangement and Altercation with Father
In 2012, according to his autobiography, Ricky Hatton had been estranged from his parents for several years due to a financial dispute. He also mentioned his father punched him in the face during a confrontation in a car park.
December 2013: Hatton Becomes Patron of Barnabus Charity
In December 2013, Ricky Hatton became the patron of Barnabus, a Manchester-based Christian charity that supports homeless and vulnerable people.
December 2016: Hatton Discusses Suicide Attempts
In December 2016, Ricky Hatton revealed that he had attempted suicide on several occasions due to depression, which was exacerbated by drinking and drug use.
February 2017: Zhakiyanov Wins WBA Bantamweight Title
On February 11, 2017, Zhanat Zhakiyanov, managed by Hatton Promotions and trained by Ricky Hatton, defeated Rau'shee Warren by split decision to win the WBA bantamweight title, becoming the first fighter under Hatton Promotions to become a world champion.
2018: Hatton in Tyson Fury's corner against Deontay Wilder
In 2018, Ricky Hatton was in the corner of Tyson Fury, acting as his trainer, for the fight against Deontay Wilder.
2019: Family Feud Healed
In 2019, Ricky Hatton healed his family feud with his parents.
December 2023: Hatton Guides Chloe Watson to Victory
On December 1, 2023, Ricky Hatton guided Chloe Watson to a unanimous decision win over Justine Lallemand, to claim the vacant European female flyweight title.
2023: "Hatton" Documentary Released
In 2023, the documentary "Hatton", directed by Dan Dewsbury, was released exclusively on Sky TV, exploring Ricky Hatton's career and his relationship with trainer Billy Graham.
January 2024: Hatton Competes on Dancing on Ice
In January 2024, Ricky Hatton participated in the sixteenth series of ITV's Dancing on Ice. He was paired with Robin Johnstone and was the first couple to be eliminated. He later began a relationship with Claire Sweeney, which ended in December 2024.
2024: Induction into Hall of Fame
In 2024, Hatton was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
2024: "Hatton" Documentary Nominated for BAFTA
In 2024, the documentary "Hatton" was nominated for a BAFTA in the Single Documentary category, following its well-received release in 2023.
July 2025: Campbell Hatton's Retirement from Boxing
During an interview in July 2025, Ricky Hatton confirmed the retirement of his son, Campbell Hatton, from professional boxing. Campbell was trained by Ricky's brother, Matthew.
July 2025: Comeback Announcement
In July 2025, Hatton announced a comeback after remaining retired for 13 years.
July 2025: Hatton Announces Return to Boxing
In July 2025, Ricky Hatton announced his comeback to boxing at the age of 46, with a fight scheduled against Eisa Al Dah in Dubai on December 2, 2025. Hatton expressed his enthusiasm for promoting boxing in Dubai.
September 2025: Ricky Hatton Found Dead at Home
On September 14, 2025, Ricky Hatton was found dead at his home in Gee Cross, Hyde, at the age of 46. Greater Manchester Police stated that the death was not being treated as suspicious. It was later clarified that his manager, Paul Speak, found him.
September 2025: Richard John Hatton's Death
Richard John Hatton died on September 14, 2025.
October 2025: Hatton's Funeral Held at Manchester Cathedral
On October 10, 2025, Ricky Hatton's funeral took place at Manchester Cathedral, following a public procession through Greater Manchester. The procession started in Hyde, passed landmarks significant to him, and included his "Trotters" Reliant Robin Van. The cortege stopped at the Etihad Stadium.
October 2025: Opening of Hatton's Inquest
On October 16, 2025, the opening of Ricky Hatton’s inquest at Stockport Coroner’s Court reported that he had taken his own life. His manager found him at his home.
December 2025: Fight scheduled for December 2025
Ricky Hatton's fight against Eisa Al Dah was scheduled to take place in Dubai on December 2, 2025. Hatton announced his comeback to boxing at the age of 46.
March 2026: Adjournment of Hatton's Inquest
On October 16, 2025, the opening of Ricky Hatton’s inquest at Stockport Coroner’s Court was held. The hearing was adjourned until March 20, 2026.
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