Boxing icon Ricky Hatton has been forced to publicly confirm he is alive and well after a vicious and bizarre death hoax spread like wildfire across social media platforms.
The former two-weight world champion, beloved by fans for his all-action style and Manchester roots, took to his official Instagram account to quash the false rumours, posting a simple yet effective message: "Just to let everyone know I am alive and well."
The alarming rumours appear to have originated from a fake news story that began circulating online, falsely claiming the 45-year-old former fighter had passed away. The news prompted a wave of shock and grief from his legions of supporters before being revealed as a complete fabrication.
Known as 'The Hitman' during his illustrious fighting career, Hatton remains a hugely popular figure in British sport. He captured world titles at light-welterweight and welterweight, engaging in epic battles against the likes of Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.
Since retiring from the ring, Hatton has transitioned into a successful career as a boxing promoter and trainer, guiding the next generation of fighters from his gym in Hyde.
This incident highlights the distressing and rapid speed at which malicious misinformation can travel online, causing unnecessary anguish to family, friends, and fans. The boxing community has rallied around Hatton, expressing relief that the rumours are untrue and condemning the source of the fake news.
