The world continues to mourn the tragic loss of Ricky Hatton, who was found dead on Sunday at the age of 46.
From immediate reactions across the boxing and sporting world
, including tribute paid to him that day at the Manchester Derby, countless numbers have come forward to remember Hatton, who revitalized British boxing, inspired a generation, and became one of the most popular and beloved fighters of a generation across the world.Trainer and analyst Teddy Atlas recalled the great determination
of Hatton being the key to his success, both in the ring and in inspiring others.
“I refer to a saying that’s been around boxing, that the ring is a chamber of truth. And in that way, there’s never been a more honest fighter than Ricky Hatton,” Atlas told Sky Sports, among many tributes we’ve seen in the last few days.
“Think about what that encapsulates. He just gave you everything every time he got into the ring. He gave you an honest day’s work. He just poured it all out. He was always committed to doing everything he could do to get to that other guy from bell to bell.
“He was everything that a fight fan wants. And not just a fight fan, but somebody that wants to aspire to be better, to say, ‘I’m having my own little fight in life’ — which we all do, life is a fight, that’s the prism that I look through being in boxing for 50 years. They see Ricky Hatton — not the most neon talent in the world, if you will, but the great will, the great heart, the great, relentless pressure.
“When that bell rang, he was moving forward, he was getting inside, he was going to your body, he was going to try to break you down, take your will away, take your oxygen away. Besides it being a great watch for the fans, it allowed them to say, ‘When you’re determined enough, when it means enough to you, when you work hard enough, you don’t have to be the fastest guy, you don’t have to be the slickest guy in the world. All you have to do is be very determined like Ricky Hatton. Never give up, never give in, find a way.’ That’s what Ricky did.”
