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Wayne Rooney has paid a heartfelt tribute to his friend and legendary boxer Ricky Hatton, who tragically passed away at the age of 46.
Hatton, who was a former world champion, was discovered deceased in his Manchester residence on September 14.
Though the cause of his death has yet to be disclosed, authorities have stated that there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident.
Rooney, now 39, shared a strong bond with Hatton, famously carrying the champion’s belts into the ring before Hatton’s win against Jose Luis Castillo in Las Vegas back in 2007. Reflecting on the loss during an episode of The Wayne Rooney Show, he expressed his sorrow.
“Ricky was not only a great guy but also a genuinely good person,” Rooney shared. “He had the nation’s admiration, and the support he received was phenomenal, with fans following him everywhere.”
Rooney also expressed his condolences to Hatton’s family and friends, saying: “I want to pay my condolences to his family and everyone who was really close to him. It’s way too soon.”
The former Manchester United and England striker shared that he received the news of Hatton’s death shortly after playing in a legends exhibition match for Manchester United in South Korea.
“It hasn’t fully kicked in yet,” Rooney added. “It’s devastating. Heartbreaking.”
“Just devastating.”
Wayne Rooney pays tribute to his friend Ricky Hatton. pic.twitter.com/BzrKHDF7Bj
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) September 14, 2025
Rooney wasn’t the only footballer to pay tribute to Hatton, who during his glittering career in the ring held world titles in two weight classes – light-welterweight and welterweight.
Jack Grealish, sharing his condolences on Instagram, described the boxing legend as a “true legend” and “absolute diamond” every time they met.
“Such sad news man,” Grealish wrote. “My thoughts go out to his family and friends. RIP Hitman.”
Roy Keane, Micah Richards, and countless others from the football world also expressed their sorrow, as did Tyson Fury from the boxing community. The heavyweight champion shared his grief on Instagram, saying, “Rip to the legend @rickyhatton may he rip. There will only ever be 1 Ricky Hatton. Can’t believe this, so young.”
