Heartbreaking: Ricky Hatton’s Final 4 Words to His Children Before ‘Slipping Away Alone’ Leave Fans in Tears

Now, those words feel like a haunting farewell — a legend in the ring, but a father with one last unfulfilled wish. Millions are shattered as tributes pour in for the 45-year-old icon.

🙏 Ricky Hatton — gone but never forgotten. WATCH FULL STORY BELOW 👇

The boxing champ Ricky Hatton’s cause of death is not yet clear.

Boxer Ricky Hatton is being remembered in tributes after being found dead at the age of 46.

A former world boxing champion, Hatton’s death was unexpected. The cause of death is not yet clear.

That has a lot of fans wondering about Hatton’s family life. He leaves behind three kids, but no wife or recent girlfriend, at least as far as is publicly known. He had a series of tumultuous relationships over the years, including with an actress, Claire Sweeney, whom he met on a reality show, and with his long-time former fiancée, Jennifer Dooley. The latter relationship was ruined by affair and drug accusations.

Ricky Hatton, Parents Had Painful Feud Before His Surprise Death

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Hatton also had a troubled relationship with his mom and dad over the years.

“Officers were called by a member of the public to attend Bowlacre Road, Hyde, Tameside, at 6:45 a.m. today where they found the body of a 46-year-old man,” Greater Manchester Police wrote in a September 14, 2025, statement.

“There are not currently believed to be any suspicious circumstances and has been referred to the coroner,” the statement continued.

Ricky Hatton Had Children With 2 Different Women

According to Hello!, Hatton is survived by three children: Campbell, 24, Millie, 13, and Fearne, 12.

Campbell, who was also a boxer, was Hatton’s child with his former girlfriend, Claire. Her last name is not clear (it is not his later girlfriend, Claire Sweeney.) Campbell Hatton retired from boxing at only 24.

He had his second and third child with former fiancée Jennifer Dooley, the site reported. She was his longest relationship, according to Daily Mail, and they lasted from 2005 through 2016. She was a college lecturer. The relationship fractured after headlines alleging an affair and drug use, Daily Mail reported.

Irish boxing champion Emma Bowe made the affair accusations to the Mirror.

According to People, Hatton’s boxing career ended in 2012, but he had announced a comeback.

His family gave a statement to the Manchester Evening News.

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved son Richard. Richard was so much more than a world champion. To us he was simply ‘Richard’, our son. A loving father, grandfather, and brother, and a true friend to many,” it reads.

“He had a heart as big as his smile, and his kindness, humour and loyalty touched everyone who was lucky enough to know him. To the wider world, Richard will always be remembered as one of boxing’s greatest champions — a man who gave everything inside the ring and wore his heart on his sleeve outside of it,” the statement continued.

“He inspired generations with his fighting spirit, his humility, and his love for the sport. But beyond the titles, the nights to remember, and the roar of the crowd, he remained the same down-to-earth Richard who never forgot where he came from.”

“As a family, our loss is immeasurable, and words cannot truly capture the pain we feel. Yet in the midst of our grief, we have been deeply moved by the overwhelming outpouring of love and support,” added the family.

Ricky Hatton’s Most Recent Girlfriend Met Him on ‘Dancing on Ice’

Hatton’s most recent relationship was with the actress Claire Sweeney, who he met on the 2024 season of the reality show, Dancing on Ice.

“We always passed each other at events, we did a TV show together, first of all I met him in La Manga in the early 2000s and then we did dance for Comic Relief together in 2013 and then met on Dancing On Ice. It’s been great,” Sweeney told Hello!

However, they broke up in 2024, Daily Mail reported, quoting a source as saying, “Claire and Ricky remain good friends, there has been no falling out between them. They decided they’re better off as pals and are no longer romantically together.” According to Daily Mail, which described his dating history as “turbulent,” Hatton’s girlfriends included “a much younger Playboy model, Chelsea Claire,” beauty therapist Angela Blemmings, and women named Marie Pollard and Charlie Nordell.