Ricky Hatton death updates: Rivals Man United and Man City give a minute’s applause as they wear black armbands to pay respect to boxing legend found dead at 46

They are usually the biggest of rivals, but today the two Manchester clubs are united.

Both sets of players are wearing black armbands in memory of Ricky Hatton.

Manchester City’s anthem Blue Moon was played before kick-off – a song which Hatton used before his fights too.

The two Manchester clubs have united to pay tribute to former world champion boxer, Ricky Hatton.

Hatton, a die-hard Manchester City fan and proud Mancunian, was meant to be watching the game at the Etihad today.

There are emotional scenes at the Etihad, with Pep Guardiola looking visibly tearful on the touchline.

A black and white image of Hatton was displayed on the screens and when the referee blew his whistle to end the minute’s applause, there as a huge roar from the crowd.

The Manchester City and Manchester United players are walking out of the tunnel now for the 197th Manchester Derby.

The Manchester City fans are waving an Oasis-style banner which says: ‘Because we need each other, we believe in one another.’

Those are lyrics from Oasis’ hit song Acquiesce.

Manchester City star Phil Foden has also paid tribute to Ricky Hatton ahead of kick-off.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: ‘My heart goes out to his family at this time.

‘Obviously to hear the news before a big game is devastating and I’m sure he would’ve been here supporting us.

‘Today is for him and we’re going to try to get the win and do the best we can for him. We’ve got to use it as motivation.’

Speaking ahead of kick-off, the Manchester City boss said it was a ‘tough wake-up for the Manchester City family’.

He said he hopes the boxing great’s family can find ‘comfort’, adding: ‘It’s a big loss for them and the boxing world, he was a true champion, and of course the Man City family.’

In July, Ricky Hatton announced that he was making a dramatic return to the ring.

With his birthday next month, it means Hatton would have fought in Dubai as a 47-year-old boxer.

He was due to fight with United Arab Emirates’ Eisa Al Dah in a middleweight bout on December 2.

Ricky Hatton fought Manny Pacquiao on May 2 2009 in Las Vegas. It would be only the second defeat in his career after also losing to Floyd Mayweather two years prior.

Pacquiao said he was ‘deeply saddened’ by Hatton’s death, adding: ‘He was not only a great fighter inside the ring but also a brave and kind man in life.’

His coach, Freddie Roach, added: ‘Boxing has lost a great talent and a wonderful man.  Manny and I so enjoyed working with Ricky promoting their fight. Ricky had a wonderful sense of humor, but more importantly he was a warrior and a winner. 

‘Manny and I cut no corners in training camp preparing for that fight because we had so much respect for him. The team at Wild Card Boxing joins me in mourning the loss of Ricky as we extend our sympathies to his family and friends. There will be only one Ricky Hatton.’

The former boxing champion appeared fit and sharp as he sweated through a workout in a video he posted on his Instagram on Thursday.

But on Friday, Hatton did not show up for a scheduled gym session.

The Mail understands concerns grew last night when Hatton failed to appear at a fight in Bolton involving one of his boxers, believed to be Jack Murphy.

When police attended his address at 6.45am today, they found Hatton’s body.

Former world champion Amir Khan, who was a friend of Hatton’s, told the BBC he was a ‘massive inspiration for his career.’

‘I’ve known Ricky a very long time, watching his amazing massive fights he used to have in Manchester Arena back in the day and obviously then travelling all over the world and fighting the biggest names in boxing around the world, from the Mayweathers to Manny Pacquiao,’ Khan said.

‘He was a massive inspiration to me and my career.

‘Not only that, he came to my wedding. He also came when I won my first world title, he was at the fight, giving me all the great advice I needed at the time and it’s just so sad because he was a very dear friend of ours.’

Hatton and Khan are pictured together during a 2009 training session is Las Vegas.

The news of Hatton’s passing has stunned Manchester, British boxing and the wider sporting world.

Hatton was synonymous with the city, having grown up there before winning a legion of local fans. It feels like a cruel twist that he has passed away on a Manchester derby matchday at the Etihad – one of the biggest games in the calendar.

The boxer wore sky blue shorts and used Blue Moon – City’s anthem – as his walkout song throughout his career and cemented himself as one of the club’s most loyal and recongisable fans.

And in 2008, he fulfilled the dream of fighting Juan Lazcano at the Etihad Stadium.

Three years earlier, he made history in front of a packed home crowd at the MEN Arena when he defeated Russia’s Kostya Tszyu to go from underdog to boxing sensation overnight.

Hatton was also a massive Oasis fan and one of his most memorable moments was when Noel and Liam Gallagher walked him into the ring holding his world title belts before his 2008 bout against Paulie Malignaggi in Las Vegas.

Perhaps the Oasis comeback tour played a role in his own decision to return to the ring in December.

Sharing a black and white image of the boxing legend, the club described Hatton as ‘one of City’s most loved and revered supporters’.

Emotional fans have begun laying floral tributes and boxing gloves outside Hatton’s address, where the boxing great was found dead this morning.

Hatton is being hailed as one of the boxing greats and a British icon.

Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, who was no stranger to a Manchester derby, is among those who have paid tribute to Ricky Hatton following his shock death at 46.

Rooney, who was friends with Hatton and is pictured with him in the ring after he defeated Jose Luis Castillo in 2007, wrote: ‘Devastated. A legend, a warrior, and a great person. Thoughts are with all of Ricky’s family.’

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards said: ‘The news is devastating, he’s such an icon. True Manchester City fan, but more importantly he was a man of the people. It feels surreal for someone so young.’

Speaking ahead of the Manchester derby later today Roy Keane also added: ‘The guy was a warrior, he gave everything for that sport.

‘The fans thought so highly of him because he left everything in that ring, absolutely shocking news.’

Manchester City will honour Ricky Hatton at this afternoon’s derby with United.

It is understood those at Hatton’s beloved club will hold a minute’s applause and both sides will wear black armbands in memory of the Mancunian fighter, who was found dead at his home this morning.

Hatton was well known to staff at City and had been due to sit at a table in hospitality for the clash.

Many have been left distraught by the development and there is likely to be a deeply sombre mood at the Etihad.

You can read more on this story here.

The boxing icon was found at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester, where a police cordon is in place.

Emotional fans have begun leaving floral tributes and boxing gloves outside his property, which was called ‘The Heartbreak’.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed a body had been found at Hatton’s address and his death is not being treated as suspicious.

A spokesman said: ‘Officers were called by a member of the public to attend Bowlacre Road, Hyde, Tameside, at 6.45am today, where they found the body of a 46-year-old man. There are not currently believed to be any suspicious circumstances.’

His house is pictured below today