As tributes continue to pour in for the late Ricky Hatton, former two-weight world champion David Haye has shared a heartfelt message recognizing the profound impact of ‘The Hitman’ on boxing and those who knew him.
The boxing world was rocked on Sunday by the news of Hatton’s passing at age 46, at his home in Hyde, Manchester. The beloved Mancunian was known for his relentless fighting style and determination, most famously capturing the light-welterweight crown by defeating Kostya Tszyu in June 2005. By the end of that year, Haye had announced his arrival on the scene with a first-round knockout of Alexander Gurov to claim the European cruiserweight title.
Haye, famously nicknamed ‘The Hayemaker,’ made his mark in November 2007 when he traveled to Paris to stop Jean-Marc Mormeck and become the unified world cruiserweight champion. Just weeks later, Hatton and his passionate supporters descended on Las Vegas for a high-profile showdown with Floyd Mayweather. Despite a valiant effort, Hatton came up short against the American superstar.
Today, Haye shared a series of photos of himself with Hatton on Instagram, accompanied by a moving tribute to one of Britain’s most cherished fighters.
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“Ricky was a brother in this sport,” Haye wrote.
“When I saw him train, fight, give it his all, I saw a man who defined what being a champion truly means. Not just belts and wins, but grit, humility, kindness, and loyalty.
He wasn’t perfect, but he was real, honest to the core. We shared many nights out together all over the world, living life to the fullest as only fighters of our era knew how. He was never going to live a quiet, boring life – that wasn’t ‘The Hitman.’”
Haye went on to celebrate Hatton’s warrior spirit, painting a vivid image of his courage and camaraderie.
“He was a warrior, the kind of man who would have been on the battlefield 1,000 years ago wielding an axe, and I’d have been proud to stand beside him fighting the enemy. I know right now he’s up there in heaven, a cold pint in hand, saving me a seat for when it’s my time. Rest well Ricky, your fight goes on through all of us.”
Fellow former professionals Tony Bellew and Matthew Macklin echoed Haye’s sentiments, responding to his Instagram tribute with their own messages of respect and admiration.
