Manny Pacquiao mourns passing of former opponent Ricky Hatton
At A Glance
- Pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao expressed his condolences to the family of British boxing icon Ricky Hatton, who passed away on Sunday, Sept. 14, at the age of 46.
Manny Pacquiao, left, and Ricky Hatton slug it out in 2009. (File Photo/AP)
Pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao expressed his condolences to the family of British boxing icon Ricky Hatton, who passed away on Sunday, Sept. 14, at the age of 46.
“I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Ricky Hatton. He was not only a great fighter inside the ring but also a brave and kind man in life,” said Pacquiao in a statement.
“We shared unforgettable moments in boxing history and I will always honor the respect and sportsmanship he showed. Ricky fought bravely, not just in the ring, but in his journey through life. He truly had a good fight, and we are all blessed to have been part of his wonderful journey.
“My heartfelt prayers and condolences to the Hatton family and loved ones. May he rest in peace,” he added.
According to the British’s Press Association, Hatton was found dead at his home in Greater Manchester. Police said they are not treating the death as suspicious.
Hatton, who held multiple world championships in the light-welterweight division and one at welterweight, became a household name in the Philippines after he fought Pacquiao in 2009 for the International Boxing Organization (IBO) and The Ring light welterweight championship.
Billed as “The Battle of East and West” and held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Pacquiao defeated Hatton by knockout in the second round.
Fellow British boxer Amir Khan also extended his sympathies to Hatton’s family.
“Today, we lost not only one of Britain’s greatest boxers, but a friend, a mentor, a warrior, Ricky Hatton,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“Ricky, thank you for everything. For your fights, your moments of glory, your grit. Thank you for pushing us, showing us what’s possible,” he added.