Ricky Hatton, who has died aged 46, was one of the most popular of British boxers, with a cheeky-chappy, hard-drinking persona that helped him build a vast army of fans. He would refer to himself as a “Manc scally”, and thousands of his supporters believed he was not just a fighter but also their pal.
Perhaps his finest hour as a fighter came in 2005 when, as World Boxing Union (WBU) light welterweight champion, he was matched with the International Boxing Federation title holder, the Russian Kostya Tszyu, an outstanding and skilful boxer. The fight was staged in the early hours of the morning to suit the demands of American television.
