“Ricky was one of a kind,” wrote former Manchester United and England midfielder David Beckham on Instagram. “Just heartbreaking.”

Former heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury wrote on Instagram: “RIP to the legend Ricky Hatton.

“There will only ever be one Ricky Hatton. Can’t believe this – so young.”

Hatton was a well-known Manchester City fan and a minute’s appreciation – applause, cheers and songs – was held before Sunday’s Premier League match against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium.

City manager Pep Guardiola said Hatton was a “true champion” and “part of the Man City family”.

Former England and Manchester United footballer Wayne Rooney, who carried Hatton’s belts into the ring before a fight with Jose Luis Castillo in 2007, said on X he was “devastated” and Hatton was a “a legend, a warrior and a great person”.

Hatton earned notable world title wins over Kostya Tszyu and Jose Luis Castillo, before defeats by Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

He inspired a devoted following during his glittering career.

More than 30,000 fans travelled to Las Vegas for Hatton’s title fight with Mayweather in 2007, and a chorus of “there’s only one Ricky Hatton” echoed around the MGM Grand even after he was stopped.

Those same chants were heard in his final professional fight in his home city of Manchester five years later.

In July Hatton announced his return to the ring. He was due to fight Eisa Al Dah at middleweight on 2 December in Dubai.

Organisers said the contest would be a professional bout, but it was unclear whether it would be fully sanctioned.

Hatton made an unsuccessful professional comeback in 2012, when he lost to Vyacheslav Senchenko in Manchester, and fought Marco Antonio Barrera in an exhibition in 2022.

After agreeing to fight former rival turned friend Barrera, Hatton spoke about his battles with depression.

In 2023 he was the subject of a documentary ‘Hatton’, in which he discussed his personal life and mental health issues.