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Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao has paid tribute to Ricky Hatton after his death aged 46.
Hatton was found dead at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester, in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Nicknamed ‘The Hitman’, Hatton was widely regarded as one of the most popular British boxers of his generation, winning world titles at light-welterweight and welterweight.
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Pacquiao faced Hatton in one of the most high-profile fights of 2009 and beat The Hitman with a brutal knockout in the second round at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
‘I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Ricky Hatton,’ Pacquiao, 46, said in a statement on Sunday.
‘He was not only a great fighter inside the ring but also a brave and kind man in life. We shared unforgettable moments in boxing history.
‘I will always honour the respect and sportsmanship he showed. Ricky fought bravely, not just in the ring, but in his journey through life.
‘He truly had a good fight, and we are all blessed to have been part of his wonderful journey.
‘My heartfelt prayers and condolences to the Hatton family and loved ones. May he rest in peace.’
Greater Manchester Police said on Sunday that it did not believe there were any suspicious circumstances surrounding Hatton’s death.
‘Officers were called by a member of the public to attend an address in Hyde, Tameside, at 6:45am today where they found the body of a 46-year-old man,’ a statement from Greater Manchester Police read.
‘There are not currently believed to be any suspicious circumstances.’
Hatton, who initially retired in 2009 before one comeback fight in 2012, had been in training for a return to the ring later this year.
The Hitman was due to fight United Arab Emirates’ Eisa Al Dah in a middleweight contest in Dubai on December 2.
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