A former boxer who grew up training with Ricky Hatton says that “even as a 12, 13, 14-year-old, he was knocking everyone out”.
Thomas McDonagh says he had looked up to the former world champion since they were children training at gyms in Greater Manchester.
“I’d known Ricky since I was about 10 or 11. As a kid he was an unbelievable fighter, he was a superstar.”
McDonagh, who helps run Collyhurst and Moston Boxing Club, says Hatton was a “Manchester legend” who had helped fundraise for the venue in recent years and “came to all our amateur boxing shows”.
“He came to the gym all the time, he’d just got time for everyone, he came over and sat down and talked to them,” McDonagh told BBC Radio Manchester.