RIP Ricky Hatton
My heart goes out to Ricky Hatton’s family this week, I’ve been left feeling incredibly sad this week following the news on Sunday morning that he’d passed away. My husband and I flew to Las Vegas back in 2007 to see him fight Floyd Mayweather Jr.
He never shied away from sharing openly his struggles with depression, alcohol misuse and even suicide attempts. He described his drinking as a “runaway train” that led to drug use, revealing the raw depths of his pain. His honesty made him a powerful advocate for conversations about mental health and addiction, especially in sport.
My Own Reflections
Hatton’s passing made me reflect on my own journey with alcohol. For a time, I saw it as a tool to cope with stress, whether after a difficult day at work or during post-natal depression. What started as the occasional glass of wine slowly became a crutch.
The truth is that alcohol didn’t help. It numbed my feelings in the short term but left the real issues unresolved. Instead of healing, it created more distance between me and the clarity I needed.
Watching someone like Hatton, once at the top of his sport, wrestle so painfully with the same struggle was a wake-up call. The strongest battles are not always the ones fought in public. Many of them are fought quietly, inside ourselves.
What Changed for Me
The shift came when I finally accepted that alcohol was not helping me. It was only masking the pain. From there, I started building healthier ways to cope.
Acceptance: Acknowledging that alcohol was not a solution.
Healthier outlets: Therapy, mindfulness and honest conversations gave me far more relief than drinking ever did.
Emotional resilience: Life still throws challenges my way, but I now face them directly instead of trying to drink them away.
It is not about life suddenly becoming easy. It is about choosing better tools. Today I feel more grounded, more present and more capable of handling whatever comes my way.
A Final Thought
Ricky Hatton’s death is a sad loss. He fought legends in the ring, but also fought even greater battles within himself. His openness about mental health and addiction helped break down stigma, and that is part of his legacy.
If you see yourself in his story, or in mine, please remember you are not alone. Reaching out for support takes courage, but it can be life-changing. Feeling stronger does not come from numbing pain, it comes from facing it and choosing healthier ways forward.
By continuing to talk honestly about mental health, addiction and recovery, we can honour Hatton’s memory and support each other in the fights that really matter.
