Ricky Hatton’s son Campbell has shared a heartbreaking tribute to his late father days on from the British boxing star’s death at the age of 46.
The Hitman was found dead at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester, on Sunday. His death his not being treated as suspicious.
In the wake of the tragedy, mourners from across the sporting world have paid tribute to the Stockport fighter.
Hatton has also received poignant farewells from family members – including his parents and his young brother Matthew.
But on Tuesday evening, his son Campbell paid his own tribute to his father, sharing an emotional statement on Instagram.
‘Heartbroken isn’t the word,’ Campbell wrote. ‘Everybody has always said I was your double and never a truer word said.
Ricky Hatton’s son Campbell has paid tribute to his father and ‘double’ after his death at 46
‘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.’
Campbell is one of three Hatton siblings, with sisters Millie and Fearne the children of the boxer and his former partner Jennifer Dooley.
Like his father, Campbell was also a promising young boxer, but retired only two months ago following emotional tumult after the death of one of his closest friends.
Career highlights included fighting on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s fight with Oleksandr Usyk in 2021, and Campbell had a record of 14 professional victories before his final two defeats.
Hatton had himself announced his return to the ring just weeks before his death, with a fight planned in Dubai this December.
The 46-year-old had previously focused on coaching in recent years.
During his fighting career, Hatton was an aggressive and brave fighter who held multiple world and UK titles between 1997 and 2012 – including the night he toppled Russia’s Kostya Tszyu to go from underdog to boxing sensation overnight.
Daily Mail Sport understands that friends were initially concerned on Saturday night, when Hatton failed to appear at a fight in Bolton involving one of his boxers, believed to be Jack Murphy, after also missing his gym session on Friday.
Hatton, who was awarded an MBE for services to sport in 2007, had often spoken of his struggles with mental health and drug addiction.
But his good friend, boxing pundit Steve Bunce, on Sunday revealed he ‘was in a really good place’ after ‘facing, attacking and solving’ his addictions.