The former partner of boxing legend Ricky Hatton has emotionally opened up about his death for the first time
Ricky Hatton’s former fiancée, Jennifer Dooley, has spoken about his death in an interview for the very first time. It has been nearly a year to the day since The Hitman’s passing.
Greater Manchester was left in ruin on September 14, 2025, when former two-weight world champion Hatton, one of the city’s own, was discovered unresponsive at his home aged 46.
Hatton embodied the spirit of Manchester and thousands lined the streets on October 10 last year as Hatton’s 14-mile funeral procession wound its way from his hometown of Hyde to Manchester Cathedral and eventually the Etihad Stadium. The eulogy at Hatton’s service was delivered by close friend and former head of boxing at Sky Sports, Adam Smith.
In honour of Hatton, Smith has written a book entitled Ricky Hatton: The Light That Never Goes Out. Smith spoke with members of the Hatton family for this heartfelt tribute, as well as some of the fighter’s former partners. This included Dooley, who had only addressed Hatton’s death previously during his inquest and agonisingly said: “I always knew he wasn’t going to be an old man.”
Hatton began dating Dooley shortly after his world title victory over Kostya Tszyu in 2005 and went on to welcome two daughters, Millie and Fearne, with her. He had previously fathered a son, Campbell, with a former girlfriend in 2001 and had since become a grandfather to Campbell’s daughter, Lyla.
The couple got engaged on Valentine’s Day in 2009, but over the following decade their relationship came under increasing pressure as Hatton struggled with alcoholism and substance abuse. They eventually separated in 2016, though they remained amicable and successfully co-parented their children.
Dooley made the heartbreaking confession in the book, saying: “I always knew he wasn’t going to be an old man. Rick was quite childlike and maybe he never really became an independent, fully functioning adult. I think that’s why he got on with his kids so well. Rick’s favourite time was with his girls.
“He lived for everybody else. He was vulnerable about mental health and so many have come to me since his passing and said they had been very close to the edge.
“Rick was really empathetic and looked at life through a wide lens, not concentrating on himself. He thought he was the same as everyone else, with small children, trying to navigate life, but he was actually a trailblazer. I wish we could have done something, but he wanted to save others.
“He was as daft as a brush but also so switched on, a contradiction, yes, but he felt very deeply. Millie and Fearne loved their time in the house with him. He was really affectionate and cuddly and they loved him hugely.”
Former Coronation Street actress Claire Sweeney began dating Hatton in early 2024, though the pair had known each other for decades, having first crossed paths at various events.
It was their joint appearance on ITV’s Dancing on Ice that truly brought them together and they made their red-carpet debut as a couple in May 2024. She opened up more about their relationship in the book, saying: “I was better than him on the ice. I miss the laughter, even after we split, we were great pals.”
Sweeney and Hatton’s romance lasted less than a year before they parted ways in December 2024, yet the two remained on close terms. She added: “I was blessed to be part of his life.
“He was such a good dad and I have a son so I understood. Ricky introduced me to his great mates. We spoke all the time. Ricky was the joker and although he had his deep moments, the only thing I noticed was that he became unusually reflective. He always had so much time for people.
“My happiest time was when I would come home from filming Corrie and we would cook a nice, healthy meal. Not naughty food. I even introduced him to an air fryer and it changed his life!
“Ricky would get so excited choosing a boxing movie for his home cinema. We would sit on the sofa and watch films. He was so normal. [But] I saw his vulnerabilities.
“He was not frightened to show me then. He was extreme, but he was wonderful. I loved being with all his mates at the pub on the estate or having a sing-song at home. So much laughter. He made me laugh so much.”
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