Just two months before he was supposed to make his boxing comeback, Ricky Hatton died at 46 years old. Naturally, fans and friends in the sports world were heartbroken and wanted answers regarding his cause of death, which has yet to be confirmed. However, some may recall that Hatton opened up about health struggles during his final years — specifically, with mental health and drugs.
Below, News47.us is breaking down what we know about Hatton’s life before death.
In August 2023, Hatton sat down with Daily Mail to discuss the aftermath of his fights against Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, both of which he lost.
“After the Mayweather fight, I started drinking a lot more heavily, and ultimately, I fell out with my parents, and that was difficult for me and I did not care if I lived or died,” Hatton said, before admitting, “I contemplated suicide many, many times. I started thinking of different ways to get through it, and I thought I could drink myself to death.”
Hatton elaborated by confessing he “couldn’t walk down the street” after his defeats because he was “so embarrassed,” adding, “I didn’t want to show my face. I know that seems a bit strong but that’s what was in my mind.”
“I thought everyone was looking at me saying, ‘He told us he was going to beat Mayweather and he didn’t,’” the late world champion explained. “It’s a shame really but was the start of my mental health struggles.”
