Claire Sweeney has paid tribute to her former boyfriend and ‘dear friend’ Ricky Hatton following his death over the weekend.
Sharing a video montage of her ex partner on Instagram to the soundtrack of Elvis Presley’s If I Can Dream, the actress wrote: ‘I’ve needed a few days to process the devastating news about my dear friend Ricky.’
‘My thoughts are with his family especially his children Campbell, Millie Fearne and Lyla, his granddaughter.’
‘To them, Speaky and to all his friends who loved him so deeply and for so many years I send you my deepest sympathy. Ricky, you were the people’s champ. We adored and cherished you. Love you always.’
The former World Boxing Champion passed away aged 46, it was revealed on Sunday. He was found at his home in Greater Manchester with police not treating his death as suspicious.
The actress struck up a relationship with Ricky after spending time together on Dancing On Ice in January 2024 and despite splitting following a eight months of dating remained close friends.
Claire Sweeney has paid tribute to her former boyfriend and ‘dear friend’ Ricky Hatton following his death over the weekend
Sharing a video montage of her ex partner on Instagram to the soundtrack of Elvis Presley’s If I Can Dream, the actress wrote: ‘I’ve needed a few days to process the devastating news’
Claire cut a sombre figure while catching a train at London Victoria Station on Monday.
Just weeks before his death the actress shared a sweet message of support after Ricky announced his return to the ring.
After retiring, he had moved into coaching but was due to return to boxing, with a fight planned in December.
Claire recently shared a video announcing his return to the sport. ‘This is brilliant’, she captioned it.
The TV star previously explained she and Ricky had known each other for 25 years before sparks flew between them, while the boxing champion said it was ‘nice’ they were able to connect following the end of their respective relationships.
The actress had been single following her separation from ex Daniel Reilly, with whom she shares son Jaxon, in 2017.
While they enjoyed a holiday together in Tenerife, the couple split in December 2024 after eight months together.
A source told the Daily Mail: ‘Claire and Ricky remain good friends, there has been no falling out between them. They decided they’re better off as pals and are no longer romantically together.
‘They enjoyed their time as a couple and have plenty of shared interests, but their lifestyles are very different.’
The former Boxing Champion passed away aged 46, it was revealed on Sunday. He was found at his home in Manchester with police not treating his death as suspicious (pictured 2024)
Claire shared a serie of photos from her years with Ricky, including sweet memories of their romantic relationship
The TV star previously explained she and Ricky had known each other for 25 years before sparks flew between them
Claire and Ricky remained on friendly terms after their relationship ended.
Following his death spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police 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.’
The Daily Mail understands that friends were initially concerned when Ricky failed to appear at an event featuring one of his boxers.
The boxer, who was awarded an MBE for services to sport in 2007, had often spoken of his struggles with mental health and drug addiction.
As the news of his death broke, Ricky’s celebrity friends paid tribute to the sportsman.
Olympian Greg Rutherford competed alongside Ricky on the 2024 series of Dancing On Ice, and shared a photo of the two sportsmen smiling on the rink.
‘Utterly heart breaking news,’ Greg wrote.
‘I was so star struck when I met Ricky for the first time and asked for this photo. I told him how big a fan I was and through the entire chat he couldn’t have been kinder and more engaged.
‘Getting to know him the little bit I did, that kindness always shined [sic] through. We had a couple of chats about mental health and the battles he’d faced and I told him some things that I hadn’t told anyone else about my own battles. He had some amazing words of support and I will always be thankful for that.
A source said: ‘Claire and Ricky remain good friends, there has been no falling out between them. They decided they’re better off as pals and are no longer romantically together’
The Daily Mail understands that friends were initially concerned when Ricky failed to appear at an event featuring one of his boxers (pictured in August)
‘A great human first and one of the greatest boxers we’ve seen. He’s going to be so missed. Love to his family.’
Ricky’s Dancing On Ice skating partner Robin Johnstone also paid tribute to Ricky in a statement, admitting he’d been doing ‘so well’ before his death.
She told The Mirror: ‘I’m devastated. It’s so sad. Ricky was a friend.
‘My last memory of him is him looking out at me on the ice during Torvill and Dean’s show, with his girls and his eyes were just lit up, he was so excited to watch us, as were his girls. His kids were everything to him…
‘Out of all my partners on the show, we kept in touch the most. He was in training mode and seemed in such good form, he was asking how we were… we were on the Torvill and Dean tour, and his girls came with him to see the show. We’ve met his girls quite a few times.’
Fellow DOI star Amber Davies wrote on Instagram: ‘Lovely Ricky, thinking of all his loved ones. One of the sweetest during our time together on Dancing On Ice. RIP.’
Oti Mabuse, who was a judge on Dancing On Ice during Ricky’s tenure, posted on her Instagram Stories: ‘My heart goes out to @rickyhitmanhatton. Kindest heart and sweetest man, was like a father to many celebs on DOI #RIP.’
David Beckham also shared his own tribute to Ricky, posting a snap of him from his boxing heyday.
He wrote: ‘Ricky was one of a kind… just heartbreaking… Ricky was special in many ways, loved by his fans.’
