Luke Littler Reflects on Ricky Hatton’s Legacy After His Passing

Luke Littler has expressed his condolences following the death of boxing champion Ricky Hatton, who was discovered deceased in his home in Hyde on the morning of March 3, 2024. The 46-year-old former champion’s passing raised concerns when he failed to attend a scheduled boxing event the previous evening, prompting an outpouring of grief from fans and fellow athletes alike. Hatton, affectionately known as “The People’s Champion,” was renowned for his remarkable career and his ability to connect with audiences worldwide.

Littler Remembers a Sporting Icon

Speaking at the Target pop-up shop in Manchester, Littler reflected on Hatton’s impact on the sport and the deep sense of loss felt in the boxing community. The distance from Littler’s hometown of Warrington to Hatton’s residence is approximately an hour’s drive, which adds a personal touch to his sentiments. “What I do, when I’m bored at night, I just go through old boxing fights,” Littler shared. “My dad was talking about the fight against Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, where he was winning it. The ref was splitting it up.”

His admiration was echoed by fellow athletes as well. “Even when we found out, I think Chris Dobey and Ross Smith said he was a proper lad. I never got the chance to meet him. It is sad,” Littler added, highlighting the collective mourning within the sporting community.

Connecting Generations of Athletes

When asked about the similarities between his showmanship and Hatton’s, Littler noted the influence of Hatton’s style on his own performance. Recently, Littler faced a challenging match against the Dutch champion Michael van Gerwen at the World Series Finals, where van Gerwen triumphed with a score of 11-7. The match was intense, and Littler employed various tactics to gain an advantage, including stepping back from the oche to refresh with water, a move designed to rattle his opponent’s focus.

“Yeah, it’s just whatever I do on stage, that’s just for myself,” Littler explained. “It gives me a bit of confidence. When I was swilling my water, that was for the fans; it wasn’t for me. I was just trying to get under their skin a bit.”

As the darts community continues to celebrate its past legends, Littler remains hopeful for van Gerwen’s future performances. “He played very well,” Littler noted. “For ourselves and the players, he’s just got to bring that form out of his home country and hopefully he can perform in England.”

The loss of Ricky Hatton serves as a poignant reminder of the profound connections forged in sports, transcending generations and uniting athletes and fans in shared remembrance. Littler’s reflections encapsulate not only the legacy left by Hatton but also the enduring spirit of camaraderie within the sporting world.