Ricky Hatton, the former world boxing champion whose all-action style made him a fan favorite in the 2000s, died on September 14, 2025, at the age of 46.
Over the course of his career, Hatton collected multiple world titles at light welterweight and one at welterweight. In 2005, the sportsman earned Fighter of the Year honors from The Ring, the Boxing Writers Association of America, and ESPN. He worked his way up from the amateur ranks to share the ring with some of the biggest names of his era, including Kostya Tszyu, Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Manny Pacquiao.
Away from the spotlight, Hatton leaned on the support of his close family. His father, Ray, acted as his manager and also guided the career of his brother, fellow boxer Matthew Hatton. Ricky himself was a father of three, with his son Campbell following in his footsteps as a professional fighter.
Alongside fatherhood and a career filled with titles, his romances with different girlfriends often kept him in the gossip columns. Was Hatton ever married, or did the boxing legend remain unmarried despite those high-profile relationships? Here’s a look at his family life and love life.
Does Ricky Hatton Have a Wife?
He never married. Though Hotton had his fair share of girlfriends over the years, none of them became his wife.
His last known relationship was with actress Claire Sweeney. The two reconnected on the 2024 season of Dancing on Ice, though they had known each other for more than two decades.
Claire recalled that they first met in La Manga in the early 2000s, worked together on a TV show, and even danced for Comic Relief in 2013 before crossing paths again on Dancing on Ice. Sparks finally flew during the competition, and Ricky later said it was “nice” that they were able to connect after the end of their past relationships.
The pair enjoyed a holiday together in Tenerife, but the romance ended in December 2024 after eight months. Speaking to MailOnline about the split, Claire said, “I’m great – we’re still friends, we were friends, we dated and now we’re friends again. It’s all good!”
His Playboy Model Girlfriend Chelsea Claire and Other Partners
Hatton was briefly linked to Playboy model Chelsea Claire, who was 14 years younger than him. Their romance began in the summer of 2023 and stayed quiet until October, when it became public. The fling didn’t last long — while things looked promising at first, work commitments got in the way, and Ricky shifted his focus to training on the rink.
The year before, in July 2022, Ricky had been seeing Angela Blemmings, a beauty therapist and owner of the EyeCandy salon in Stalybridge. That relationship ended the following year.
In 2017, the boxer began dating longtime friend Marie Pollard. After their first split in 2018, Ricky appeared with a new girlfriend, Charlie Nordell. The couple enjoyed a glamorous trip to Las Vegas, staying at Caesar’s Palace and sharing photos from their holiday. Their relationship lasted two years before coming to an end, with reports saying they wanted different things as Charlie prepared to move to Dubai in 2020.
Ricky Hatton Was Engaged to Jennifer Dooley
His longest relationship was with Jennifer Dooley, which lasted from 2005 until 2016. Jennifer worked as a lecturer at Manchester College of Art and Technology but gave up her position in 2007 to travel to Las Vegas and watch Ricky take on Floyd Mayweather. It was one of the biggest fights of his career, though Hatton lost to the undefeated American.
Two years later, on Valentine’s Day of 2009, Ricky proposed to his then-supposed-to-be future wife, Jennifer. He even gave their Cheshire home the nickname “Heartbreak Hotel,” borrowing from Elvis Presley’s famous song.
Jennifer was beside him through many of his proudest moments, watching him win and defend world titles.
But the highs of his career were soon followed by personal struggles. In 2010, a video of Ricky using cocaine was leaked, leading him to enter rehab while Jennifer stayed by his side. However, after more than a decade together, their engagement came to an end in 2016.
Ricky Had Three Children
Hatton was a father of three. His eldest, Campbell, is 24, while his daughters Millie and Fearne are 13 and 12. Campbell was born during Ricky’s relationship with his former partner Claire, and Millie and Fearne came along later during his time with fiancée Jennifer Dooley. Ricky was also a grandfather to Lyla.
Campbell followed his father into the ring, making his professional debut in 2021. He picked up his first knockout that same year against Attila Csereklye and built an unbeaten streak of 14 fights.
Nevertheless, just months before his father’s death, Campbell announced his retirement from boxing.
Who Are Ricky Hatton’s Parents? Inside His Family and Siblings
Hatton, who grew up on the Hattersley council estate in Hyde, Greater Manchester, came from a sporting family. His father Ray and grandfather both played football for Rochdale.
His mother, Carol, remained rooted in her working-class values. Even while Ricky was a world champion, his doting mom kept her job running a carpet stall at Glossop Market in the Peak District.
“If I was a millionaire I’d still work there,” Carol once said, explaining she didn’t want to sit at home with a Hoover. A sports writer once described her as having “a majestic personality,” and Ricky himself often joked about still being the lad who loved curry, chips, and darts at the local pub.
He only moved out of his parents’ boxroom at 24, timing the walk to his mum’s front door from his new semi-detached house at just 32 seconds. For a long time, he still went back daily for tea until his then-girlfriend Jennifer Dooley moved in and teased him about never using his oven.
Ray, his father, played an equally central role in his life and career. He managed Ricky’s fights but refused to be paid for it. “Richard is terrible with money,” he admitted, noting that his son never cared much about his actual net worth. Ricky often pleaded with his dad to leave the carpets behind and work full time for him, but Ray always refused, insisting, “We don’t need owt.” Both parents, who always called him Richard rather than Ricky, grounded him in the working-class ethos he carried proudly throughout his career.
