Ricky Hatton’s son, Campbell, has posted a heartfelt tribute to his father, who was found dead at the age of 46 at his home in Manchester on Sunday.
Hatton, who won 45 of his 48 fights during his 15-year career, won world titles at light-welterweight and welterweight, and last fought professionally in 2012.
Nicknamed ‘The Hitman’, Hatton was adored by British boxing fans for his all-action, explosive style in the ring.
Hatton’s son, Campbell, made his professional debut in 2021 and was initially trained by his uncle and former European champion Matthew Hatton.
However, after suffering back-to-back defeats last year, Campbell retired from professional boxing in July aged just 24.
‘Heartbroken isn’t the word,’ Campbell wrote on Instagram.
‘Everybody has always said I was your double and never a truer word said. Looked up to you in every aspect of life.
‘Can’t explain how much I’m going to miss the laughs we had and all the good times which I will remember forever. Just can’t believe we won’t have anymore. Love you dad.’
Speaking about his son’s decision to retire in July, Hatton revealed that Campbell had been affected by the death of one of his close friends.
‘No, Campbell won’t fight again,’ Hatton told Boxing Now.
‘As you know, he didn’t have much amateur experience. He gave it a go in the amateurs, and then he went pro and gave it a go.
‘He fought for the Area title and got beaten. I thought he lost it to be fair. But then he fought the same lad straight away after. I thought he won the second one; they were both very close fights.
‘But he lost a little bit of his mojo, and then a few things went wrong. Sadly, he lost one of his best friends, Justin, who passed away at 27 years of age.
‘He went through a bit for a time, and he was in the gym, and his heart wasn’t in it.
‘I said, ‘Listen son, you should be very proud of yourself, you have given it a go, but if you have lost your mojo, you need to get out’.
‘You can’t play boxing, you can play any other sport. So I advised him, and now he is doing solar panels.’
Earlier this week, the Hatton family said ‘it has been a source of great comfort to see just how many lives Richard touched’.
‘Richard was so much more than a world champion. To us he was simply ‘Richard’, our son. A loving father, grandfather, and brother, and a true friend to many,’ the family said through a statement issued by police.
‘He had a heart as big as his smile, and his kindness, humour and loyalty touched everyone who was lucky enough to know him.
‘To the wider world, Richard will always be remembered as one of boxing’s greatest champions — a man who gave everything inside the ring and wore his heart on his sleeve outside of it.
‘He inspired generations with his fighting spirit, his humility, and his love for the sport. But beyond the titles, the nights to remember, and the roar of the crowd, he remained the same down-to-earth Richard who never forgot where he came from.
‘As a family, our loss is immeasurable, and words cannot truly capture the pain we feel. Yet in the midst of our grief, we have been deeply moved by the overwhelming outpouring of love and support.
‘It has been a source of great comfort to see just how many lives Richard touched, and how widely he was admired and respected.
‘At this time, we kindly ask for privacy as we come to terms with life without him. In the days and weeks ahead, we will take strength from one another and from the knowledge that Richard’s legacy — both in boxing and as a man — will continue to live on.
‘Richard’s memory will forever remain in our hearts, in the hearts of his fans, and in the sport he loved so dearly.’
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