Tributes are pouring in for former welterweight and light-welterweight world boxing champion Ricky Hatton after his surprise death at the age of just 46.
The Hitman was due to return to the ring in December after retiring in November 2012 with an impressive 45-3 record.
The Stockport-born fighter was arguably one of the UK’s most popular fighters, but where does he rank on the all-time list?
No.1 – Lennox Lewis
The last undisputed heavyweight champion, Lennox Lewis, might not have achieved the level of popularity that some of the other fighters on this list enjoyed, but his level of achievement ensures his place as one of the finest boxers to emerge from these shores.
Born to Jamaican parents in London before a move to Canada at the age of 12, Lewis’ perceived lack of Britishness on this side of the pond meant he would never enjoy the same level of adulation or love afforded to fellow heavyweight Brit, Frank Bruno.
Yet, Stateside, Lewis was also disregarded and under-rated by an American audience who had plenty of home heavyweight favourites like Riddick Bowe, Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson to mention just three to get behind.
An Olympic Gold medal winner for Canada, Lewis was seldom the crowd-favourite but, despite the lack of love, would end his career as one of, if not the greatest British fighter of all time.
A three-time and undisputed heavyweight champion, Lewis’ career was rarely straightforward. Having been handed his first world title in 1993 when Riddick Bowe refused to defend his WBC strap, Lewis would make three successful defences of that title before a shock second-round stoppage loss to Oliver McCall seemed to affirm his doubters.
Having regained the title in bizarre circumstances against a mentally broken Oliver McCall in a subsequent rematch two years later, Lewis had yet to truly foster the support or indeed the respect of a boxing public that considered the Brit little more than a paper champion.
However, a sensational first-round stoppage of a then feared Andrew Golota silenced at least a portion of his critics before a career-defining pair of fights with legendary IBF and WBA champion Holyfield would truly enhance the Londoners fighting legacy.
Following a hotly disputed draw in New York, Lewis would claim a deserved unanimous decision victory in Las Vegas and, with it, became the first Brit to become an undisputed heavyweight champion in the modern era.
Still, there would be more drama and glory to come. Lewis would again suffer a shock 5th round KO loss, this time at the hands of the unheralded Hasim Rahman in South Africa.
Yet once again, The Lion would show his true colours, regaining his titles just six months later with a devastating one-two combination that must surely rank as one of the best and most satisfying knock-out victories in heavyweight world title fights in recent memory.
Then 36 and approaching the end of his career, the great Brit would add further victories over future Hall of Famers Tyson and Vitali Klitschko.
Having vested everyman to face him inside the ring, Lewis retired as the dominant heavyweight of a brilliant era of big men.
With a 41-2-1 record, the affable Brit was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2009.
While never reaching the popularity of others, Lewis achievements remain unparalleled amongst his British contemporaries and his place as the country’s finest fighter of the modern era is hard to dispute.
No.2 – Tyson Fury
Tyson Fury’s status as one of Britain’s greatest, was cemented by his trilogy series with Deontay Wilder and double-header with Oleksandr Usyk.
Born prematurely and named after the legendary Mike Tyson, Fury’s path to greatness might have seemed almost pre-ordained, but his journey to the top of the sport has been anything but seamless.
Standing 6ft 9″, a true giant of a man, Fury continues to divide opinion.
A controversial and outspoken character, the Manchester-born heavyweight has achieved far more than many would ever have expected and despite several bumps in the road remained unbeaten after 32 fights, before he met Usyk.
Having worked his way into a title shot with long-term ruler Wladimir Klitschko, Fury boxed his way to a superb victory on German soil as he claimed the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO, and The Ring heavyweight titles back in 2015.
However, having climbed his own personal Everest, Fury’s fall from grace would be just as dramatic with drug and mental health problems.
Following an extended three-year period outside of the ring, Fury’s weight had ballooned to well over 350lbs. Months of drug abuse and alcoholism had taken an emotional and physical toll that left him on the brink of self-destruction. The cold reality of his desperation left the 27-year-old on the verge of suicide, as later described in his wonderfully candid sit-down with podcast host Joe Rogan.
Having finally enjoyed a moment of clarity amidst the surroundings of a Halloween night in Morecambe, Fury would hit the road and vowed to regain the titles he had not yet surrendered inside the hallowed squared circle.
Shedding well over 100lbs in a little under a year, and spurred on by the taunts of unbeaten knockout star Deontay Wilder, Fury would make a sensational return to the sport as he claimed a remarkable draw with WBC ruler Wilder in the first of their trilogy series in a bout that would never be forgotten by those fortunate enough to be in attendance on that night.
In a resurrection more akin to WWE than WBC, Fury’s rise to beat the count in the 12th and final round is, even now, a barely believable piece of moments in boxing.
Enshrined in the glory of that moment, Fury had won over the collective heart and mind of the British sporting public with gallantry so extraordinary that it seemed he might well be made of something other than blood and bones.
Having boxed to near perfection but only been awarded a draw, Fury would turn aggressor in the rematch, dominating and exposing the out-skilled American with a one-sided beat down that had the Bomb Squad reaching for the towel midway through the eighth stanza.
A showdown with Anthony Joshua failed to materialise, a third fight with Deontay Wilder might not have been what the public wanted, but boy did it deliver in the drama department.
Having tasted the canvas twice in their first fight, Fury would again fall in a brilliant back and forth contest that has to go down as one of the best heavyweight fights of the modern era.
Tasting WilderÂŽs power on several occasions, the Gypsy King once again displayed his enormous heart and extraordinary levels of composure in rising twice to stop the hard-hitting Alabama slugger in the eleventh round of a brilliantly brutal boxing slugfest.
Fury wrestled with retirement after beating Dillian Whyte in April 2022, keeping the public on its toes with plenty of outspoken social media posts before hanging up his gloves in August. But nobody believed it.
His short-lived first retirement saw him beat Derek Chisora for a third time in October 2022 and then strangely struggled to get the better of former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia a year later.
Despite going into the 10-round contest as overwhelming favourite, Fury was knocked down by Ngannou in the third round before eventually struggling his way to a split decision win.
Then finally the undisputed heavyweight title fight that everyone demanded was on. Fury would face WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion Usyk in December 2023.
That was then delayed until February 2024, after the result of the Ngannou and then further delay suffered an eye injury in training.
When they finally touched gloves in May 2024, Fury was dealt his first professional loss but only via a split decision.
Usyk claimed a unanimous decision victory in a competitive rematch in December 2024, but it surely signalled the end of Fury’s undisputed heavyweight dreams.
No.3 – Ricky Hatton
If boxing was a popularity contest, Ricky Hatton would surely be the undisputed champion of British fighting history.
Indeed, perhaps only Frank Bruno and Henry Cooper can rival the Stockport-born slugger in terms of the levels of love and respect afforded by the British public.
Having earned a reputation for downing pints as readily as his opponents inside the ring, Hatton was a genuine man of the people. No matter where he fought, the Hitman’s fans would follow in their thousands, supporting their man in both the glory and the despair.
A remarkable rise from British level ranks, Hatton was never the most skilful. But boy could he hit. The “Hitman” moniker borrowed from the great Thomas Hearns rightfully became his own.
Unbeaten for the first ten years of his career, Hatton shocked the boxing world when he stopped the great Kostya Tszyu in 2005 to claim the IBF and The Ring light welterweight titles.
A 4/1 underdog, Hatton had been given little chance going into the bout but proved far too strong for an ageing but still outstanding Tszyu.
Hatton would add the IBF and vacant IBO light welterweight titles to a growing resume with a fine win over Juan Urango in 2007 and, having dominated the 140lb weight class, would step up to face the unbeaten great, Floyd Mayweather Jr at welterweight.
Las Vegas would host the defining bout of Hatton’s career, and with a travelling band of over 30,000 supporters, Sin City more closely resembled something akin to Blackpool in what would prove an extraordinary sporting occasion in the Nevada desert.
Sadly for Hatton, he didn’t get the result he wanted, succumbing to a wonderfully placed counter punch that sent the Manchester man spinning into the turnbuckle and on his way to a 10th round stoppage.
A return to the 140lb division to defend his IBO and The Ring light welterweight titles against Paulie Malignaggi added further gloss to an already distinguished career before a painfully one-sided second round KO loss at the hands of Manny Pacquiao ended Hatton’s reign as champion in the light welterweight ranks.
A brilliantly popular and hard-hitting champion, Hatton was as tough as they come. His ability to take a punch while riding the sling-shots of his naysayers only enhanced his reputation among his faithful support.
Adored to the end, Hatton would attempt a brief comeback following a three and a half year lay-off from the sport, but a second career stoppage against the relatively unknown Vyacheslav Senchenko in 2012 ended any hopes of a return to the top of the game.
But Hatton believed he still had something left to give and announced his return to the ring in 2025. He was set to face UAE fighter Eisa Al Dah at middleweight on December 2 in Dubai.
Blessed with a hardened chin and a sense of humour to match, Hatton remained a true favourite amongst fight fans both at home and across the globe. Humble and brave, there was indeed, only one Ricky Hatton.
A fighting man’s fighter, Hatton fully deserves his place in the British fighting Hall of Fame.
No.4 – Chris Eubank
While he often divided opinion, there can be little doubt that Chris Eubank remains one of, if not the greatest showmen to emerge from the British isles in the modern era.
Love him or hate him, and plenty of boxing fans fell into the latter category, Eubank’s impression on British and, indeed, world boxing is one that will not be quickly forgotten.
Known as Simply the Best and boasting a unique image and remarkable brand of showmanship that heavily straddled the line between confidence and arrogance, the London-born entertainer, famed for his vault over the top rope when entering the ring, was certainly an individual. Let’s not even get started on his attire.
Yet, despite all the posturing and the bravado, Eubank was one hell of a fighter.
Having suffered a difficult childhood spent in both East London and Jamaica, Eubank was sent to live with his mother in the rough and tough south South Bronx district of New York at the age of 16. It was here that the now-legendary fighter would get his first taste of the boxing world.
Remaining unbeaten for the first five years of his career, Eubank would truly emerge on the world scene in his 25th fight as he scored a huge TKO victory over now synonymous rival Nigel Benn to claim the WBO middleweight title.
A little under a year later, Eubank would make the final defence of his middleweight title with a successful points victory against Michael Watson.
Little under three months later, the pair would come together once more in a bout that would result in near-fatal injuries for the vested Watson. After a devastating 12th round TKO, Watson would spend 40 days in a coma, undergoing six subsequent brain surgeries.
While Eubank had claimed a second world title, this time at the super-middleweight level, he would never again be the same fighter. The scars of the damage inflicted on Watson appeared to have removed his killer instinct.
A rematch with great rival Benn would follow two years later, and a controversial draw underpinned the ferocity of their brilliant rivalry.
Sadly, an oft-talked about third bout would never materialise. Eubank’s rivalry with Benn is rightly regarded as one of the greatest in the history of British Boxing, with Benn displaying a particularly venomous hatred for the divisive and aloof Eubank.
Yet, for all of his achievements and victories inside the ring, Eubank remained something of an anti-hero. A British version of Floyd Mayweather, if you will.
Unbeaten, but unloved, the Brit would only become a darling of both British fans and media in defeat, particularly following a pair of brutal losses at the hands of Carl Thompson in the final bout of Eubanks storied career.
Eubank would retire with an impressive record of 45-5-2, and while many wondered if he might have achieved more if it were not for that mentally scarring night against Watson, there should be little doubt that the now popular and always articulate former champion fully deserves his place in the pantheon of Britain’s greatest fighters.
No.5 – Joe Calzaghe
An unbeaten champion who ruled the middleweight ranks for over a decade, Joe Calzaghe’s place on any list of Britain’s greatest fighters is a nigh-on cert.
Justifiably known as “The Pride of Wales”, Calzaghe made his professional debut in 1993 on the undercard of the Lennox Lewis vs Frank Bruno world title fight but would go on to make his own name in double quick time, winning his first world title against the first man on our list, Chris Eubank in 1997, scoring a unanimous decision to claim the vacant WBO super middleweight Title.
One of only four European boxers to retire as an unbeaten world champion, the “Pride of Wales” was famed for his speed of hand and a brilliant ability to throw punches in bunches. Despite a perceived lack of power, Calzaghe possessed a unique ability to overwhelm his opponents with the sheer volume of his relentless assaults, frequently throwing upwards of 100 punches per round.
Following that break-through win against Eubank, Calzaghe would defend his WBO super middleweight title on a remarkable twenty-one occasions between 1998 and 2007.
However, despite his continued and dominant success, Calzaghe would have his critics. A rack of title defences against names like Tocker Pudwill, Mger Mkrtchyan and Miguel Angel JimĂ©nez (wasn’t he a golfer?) did little to raise the Welshman’s stock with proposed fights against the likes of Roy Jones Jnr and Bernard Hopkins only materialising at the back-end of the Welshman’s career.
However, in 2006, Calzaghe would claim the IBF and inaugural Ring Magazine super-middleweight titles with perhaps the best performance of his career as he schooled, battered and humiliated the previously unbeaten Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy.
Billed as a mini-version of Mike Tyson, Lacy would prove little more than cannon fodder for the brilliant Calzaghe with the Welshmen appearing to win virtually every minute of every round en-route to a lopsided points decision victory. Calzaghe had entered the bout as a betting underdog for the first time.
Stepping up again eighteen months later, Calzaghe would further enhance his status as the greatest super middleweight of the era with an outstanding performance in overcoming unbeaten Danish hardman Mikkel Kessler over a hard twelve rounds to add the WBA (Unified) and WBC super middleweight titles to his resume.
Having conquered the super-middleweight ranks, Calzaghe would finally come face-to-face with US legend Bernard Hopkins with the American’s Ring light heavyweight title on the line in 2008.
Edging a narrow points decision, Calzaghe had cemented his status as perhaps the best pound-for-pound fighter to emerge from the UK. An easy schooling of a faded Roy Jones proved to be a somewhat anti-climactic final bout of the Welshman’s remarkable unbeaten career.
Calzaghe would retire having held the WBO, WBA, WBC and IBF super middleweight titles, as well as the Ring Magazine world titles at super middleweight and light heavyweight, ending his career with a perfect record of 46-0 (32 KOs).
While he might have faced better opponents during his peak years, a stellar finale to an unbeaten career ensured Calzaghe’s position as one if, if not the best fighter to emerge from the UK in any era.
No.6 – Nigel Benn
Known as the Dark Destroyer, Nigel Benn’s place on our list is perhaps a debatable one with the likes of Prince Naseem Hamed and Frank Bruno missing out. However, the former WBO middleweight and WBC super middleweight champion’s ferocity inside the ring was never in doubt.
Brought up in East London, Benn joined the Army at the age of 18 and was stationed in Western Germany for three years before an eighteen-month stint in Northern Ireland. Benn would then turn pro in 1987 and it wasn’t long before that now famed ferociousness would become his trademark.
A soldier inside and outside of the ring, Benn would suffer an early career setback with a sixth-round stoppage at the hands of Michael Watson.
However, it took a little over three years into his career for Benn to win his first world title with an eighth-round TKO victory against Doug DeWitt in 1990. However, just seven months later, Benn would suffer a second career defeat as he was stopped in the ninth round of his now-legendary first fight with Chris Eubank.
Despite those disappointments, Benn would then embark on a ten-fight winning streak that included a second world title victory, this time overcoming Italian Mauro Galvano with a fourth-round stoppage win in Italy to claim the WBC super middleweight title.
Following three further defences of his WBC title, Benn would face the biggest fight of his career as his long-awaited grudge re-match with Chris Eubank took place, with both champions putting their respective super-middleweight titles on the line.
A brilliant build-up to the fight preceded an outstanding occasion In front of a packed 42,000 crowd at Old Trafford. Global TV figures estimated near to 500 million would also tune in for the bout, and they would not be disappointed.
Entering the bout as a 6/4 betting outsider, many fans and pundits felt Benn had done enough for the win, but a draw left both men retaining their respective titles.
If ever a contest deserved a trilogy, this was it, but sadly this would be the last occasion that these two great warriors would share a ring.
Benn would go on to defend his WBC strap on five more occasions, including a tragic yet brilliant win against Gerald McClellan.
Having survived a vicious onslaught in the opening stanza, including a knock-down that sent Benn through the ropes and out of the ring, the Londoner would regain his composure to score a remarkable come from behind victory with a TKO in the eleventh round.
Sadly, McClellan would suffer permanent and life-changing injuries that ended his career in the sport.
Much like Eubank, Benn was never again the same force following that fateful night in London in 1995 and would lose his title in a surprise split-decision rematch against South African journeyman Thulani Malinga a year later.
A pair of losses to Steve Collins would send Benn into retirement, and while other Brits might have achieved more in intervening years, the Londoner would retire with a fine 42-5-1 record.
A double-world champion who fought in two of the country’s greatest ever fights ensures Benn’s place as one of Britain’s all-time boxing greats.
READ MORE: BOXING LEGEND RICKY HATTON FOUND DEAD IN MANCHESTER HOME AT 46
