Ricky Hatton was due to attend Manchester derby before tragic death aged 46

British boxing legend Ricky Hatton was due to attend Sunday's Manchester derby before his tragic death aged 46. Hatton, a passionate Man City supporter, was found dead at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester at 6:45am on Sunday.

Greater Manchester Police say that they are not treating his death as suspicious. Hatton had a table in hospitality booked for the Premier League match between City and Manchester United, and there will now be a minute's applause before kick-off at 4:30pm.

The club shared a heartfelt tribute which read: "Manchester City are devastated to learn Ricky Hatton has passed away, aged 46. Ricky was one of City's most loved and revered supporters, who will always be remembered for a glittering boxing career that saw him win world titles at welterweight and light-welterweight.

"Everyone at the Club would like to send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time. We can confirm there will be a minute’s appreciation ahead of today's game against Manchester United."

Tributes are flooding in for Hatton, one of Britain's most popular fighters. He is survived by his three children; son Campbell, and daughters Fearne Grace and Millie.

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A GMP spokesperson said: "We can confirm that we have found a body at an address on Bowlacre Road in Gee Cross at 6.45am today, Sunday, September 14. The death is not being treated as suspicious."

Hatton was scheduled to return to the boxing ring in early December, 13 years after his last professional fight. The Hitman was set to face Dubai's first-ever professional boxer, Eisa Al Dah, in the Middle East.

His last professional bout was against Vyacheslav Senchenko of Ukraine in Manchester. That came three-and-a-half years after he hung up his gloves following a loss to Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

Aside from boxing, Hatton loved his football and attended the PFA awards less than a month ago. He wore sky blue shorts in the ring and walked out to City's anthem, Blue Moon.

He fulfilled a childhood dream by fighting at the City of Manchester Stadium in 2008, beating Mexico's Juan Lazcano. Speaking on the club's official podcast in 2024, Hatton explained: "I go to the same pubs and I go to the match on Saturdays. I think that's why the fan base I had was so massive.

"I had an exciting boxing style, I was a body puncher and aggressive but I was just one of the boys. People in town could relate to me. They see me in town, at the darts, at the match, you don't see me on a red carpet. The fans could see me as one of them.

"It's the way I was brought up. My mum and dad brought me up right and I've always had good friends around me. No outsiders, it's always been the same group.

"If I ever got too big for my boots, my mates would tell me and they wouldn't want to know me. City fans I've no doubt will get behind Campbell because he's he same, he's one of us."

He added: "It's always been a family club. They've invested in the ground and facilities and the team but the club has kept its feet on the ground. When a few quid comes in you can lose that but we've not lost it, it's still the massive family club it is."

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