Richard John Hatton MBE, more commonly known as Ricky “the Hitman” Hatton, (born 6 October 1978, in Stockport, Greater Manchester, England), is a British professional boxer. He is a two-time IBF and IBO light welterweight champion, having relinquished the IBF belt, only to step back down to the weight class and beat Juan Urango.
He was the WBA Welterweight Champion, but relinquished this title on 31 August 2006. Hatton is also the former WBU, WBA Light Welterweight Champion and WBC, WBA, WBO Inter-Continental Light Welterweight Champion, and former Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight Champion.
Born in Stockport, Greater Manchester, Hatton was raised on the Hattersley council estate in Hyde, Greater Manchester and trained at the Sale West ABC on the Racecourse Estate. He was educated at Hattersley High School.
Both his grandfather and father played for Rochdale, and Ricky had a trial for the youth team. But Hatton found a local boxing club in Hyde, which he still trains at, and found he enjoyed the sport.
Hatton’s entrance music is the Manchester City club song “Blue Moon” as performed by the band “Supra.” Aged 14, Hatton was taken by his uncles Ged and Paul to Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium to watch the second fight between Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank.
Hatton joined the family carpet business on leaving school, but after he cut four of his fingers with a Stanley knife, his father made him a salesman to prevent him from losing his fingers.
Championships
- The Ring magazine’s World Light Welterweight Champion
- IBO World Light Welterweight Champion
- Former 2x IBF World Light Welterweight Champion
- Former WBA World Light Welterweight Champion
- Former WBA World Welterweight Champion
- Former WBU Light Welterweight Champion
- Former British Light Welterweight Champion
- Former WBO Inter-Continental Light Welterweight Champion
- Former WBA Inter-Continental Light Welterweight Champion
- Former British Central Area Light Welterweight Champion
- The Ring magazine’s 2005 ‘Fighter of the Year’
- ABA National Champion Light Welterweight 1997
- ABA National Junior Champion (Class A) Light Welterweight 1995,1996
- ABA National Junior Champion (Class B) Light Welterweight 1997
- ABA National Junior Champion (Class C) Light Welterweight 1994.
Other Information
- Real name : Richard John Hatton
- Nickname(s) : The Hitman, The Manchester Mexican, The Pride of Hyde
- Rated at : Light Welterweight, Welterweight
- Height : 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
- Reach : 65 in
- Nationality : British
- Birth date : 6 October 1978 (1978-10-06)
- Birth place : Stockport, Greater Manchester, England
- Stance : Orthodox
