Amir Khan makes heartbreaking plea after boxing legend Ricky Hatton's death

Amir Khan has called for Ricky Hatton's death not to be in vain after the British boxing legend was found dead at home.

Hatton, 46, was one of Britain's most popular fighters at the peak of his career, becoming world champion in 2005 before later unifying the light-welterweight division. He went on to take thousands of fans to Las Vegas where he fell short against first Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

Hatton struggled with his mental health throughout his career, particularly following his brutal defeat by Pacquiao in 2009, and Khan has taken to social media to plead with those who are struggling to reach out.

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"Today we lost not only one of Britain’s greatest boxers, but a friend, a mentor, a warrior, Ricky Hatton. As fighters, we tell ourselves we’re strong — we train, we sweat, we take hits, we get up. But sometimes the hardest fight happens in silence, in the mind. Mental health isn’t weakness. It’s part of being human. And we must talk about it. We must reach out. We must lean on each other.

"Ricky, thank you for everything. For your fights, your moments of glory, your grit. Thank you for pushing us, showing us what’s possible. To everyone reading this: if you’re hurting or struggling, you are not alone. Talk. Reach out. Because we need more light, more compassion, more understanding. Rest well, Ricky. You’ll always have your place in the ring of our memories."

Hatton won world titles at light-welterweight and welterweight and his all-action style made him one of the most popular fighters in the first decade of the new century. He rose through amateur and domestic levels to pit his wits against the best boxers of his generation including Kostya Tszyu, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

Hatton’s down-to-earth demeanour also endeared him to fans across the world, and he was open about the mental health issues he endured upon his retirement from the ring. He overcame a fallout with his family and a court case with his former trainer Billy Graham to become a successful trainer, coaching Zhanat Zhakiyanov to a world bantamweight title win in 2017.

Hatton announced in July that he would make a return to boxing in December in a professional bout against Eisa Al Dah in Dubai.