Steve Bunce: How boxing fell in love with Ricky Hatton, the true people’s champion

Hatton, who has died at the age of 46, was adored by British boxing fans and brought thousands with him on a raucous ride to Las Vegas

Hatton’s victory over Kostya Tszyu earned him the IBF world welterweight title in 2005 (Nick Potts/PA)

They filled the arenas and pubs and streets every time Ricky Hatton fought, and they sang “there is only one Ricky Hatton” until dawn.

Ricky Hatton was the council estate boy, who grew up in a pub and took about 60,000 fans to Las Vegas when he was one of boxing’s top attractions. He was British boxing’s most popular boxer and that title feels like it will be his crown for a long, long time.

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