By Aaron Morris,Shane Ireland

Copyright manchestereveningnews

Jon Thaxton has paid tribute to Ricky Hatton, following the tragic news of the British boxing legend’s death at his home. The sad news was confirmed by Greater Manchester Police in a statement after they were called to Hatton’s property in Hyde on Sunday. A spokesperson for the force stated: “Officers were called by a member of the public to attend Bowlacre Road, Hyde, Tameside, at 6:45am today, where they found the body of a 46-year-old man. There are not currently believed to be any suspicious circumstances.” In the days since the tragic news, numerous close friends and family members of Hatton have shared their own heartfelt tributes to ‘the Hitman’, including Thaxton, who faced him in an intense bout at the Wembley Conference Centre in 2000. Despite many boxing fans believing that Thaxton would be an easy win for Hatton, ‘Jono’ lasted the full 12 rounds as he vied for the vacant British light-welterweight title. Reflecting on the match on BBC Radio Norfolk, Thaxton said: “He was the people’s champion and that’s one title you cannot win, you have to earn it. For 48 minutes in there, we didn’t like each other much, but after that, whenever we’ve seen each other on the circuit, it’s all been good. “He came to my retirement dinner. He was a genuine, good person. I’m very proud of that fight. It wasn’t my best performance, but it was my most favourite fight, and it did put my name out there a bit. People still talk about that fight, and that’s something to be proud of.” A light-welterweight and welterweight champion of the world, ‘the Hitman’ shared the ring with some of the world’s greatest fighters. Whilst numerous boxing enthusiasts might point to his 2007 defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jr or his 2009 loss against Manny Pacquiao as the most challenging contests of his professional journey, Thaxton’s promoter, Neil Featherby, is convinced that his boxer provided Hatton with his most gruelling encounter inside the ropes, reports the Mirror . He revealed: “Ricky was always the first to say that Jon was his toughest opponent. We all thought it was going to be over very quickly because it was such a bad cut, and we thought it was going to be stopped early.” Thaxton carved out an impressive boxing career of his own, reaching its pinnacle when he captured the WBF lightweight crown against Christophe De Busillet in 2005. He hung up his gloves four years later boasting a record of 34-11. Despite their brutal encounter, a genuine friendship flourished between Hatton and Thaxton, with the former making an appearance at the latter’s retirement celebration in 2010. Thaxton’s former trainer, Graham Everett, recalled the occasion vividly, stating: “He sat at the top table with us all, and he was brilliant. He supported Jon. They had that lifelong friendship after their fight, and he was never interested in a rematch! “He always laughed and joked about it. He was a great character and one of Britain’s greatest ever boxers, without a shadow of a doubt.” Hatton’s family have released a deeply moving tribute to the boxing legend. They said: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved son Richard. “Richard was so much more than a world champion. To us, he was simply ‘Richard’, our son. A loving father, grandfather, and brother, and a true friend to many. He had a heart as big as his smile, and his kindness, humour and loyalty touched everyone who was lucky enough to know him. “To the wider world, Richard will always be remembered as one of boxing’s greatest champions – a man who gave everything inside the ring and wore his heart on his sleeve outside of it. “He inspired generations with his fighting spirit, his humility, and his love for the sport. But beyond the titles, the nights to remember, and the roar of the crowd, he remained the same down-to-earth Richard who never forgot where he came from. “As a family, our loss is immeasurable, and words cannot truly capture the pain we feel. Yet in the midst of our grief, we have been deeply moved by the overwhelming outpouring of love and support. It has been a source of great comfort to see just how many lives Richard touched, and how widely he was admired and respected. “At this time, we kindly ask for privacy as we come to terms with life without him. In the days and weeks ahead, we will take strength from one another and from the knowledge that Richard’s legacy – both in boxing and as a man – will continue to live on. “Richard’s memory will forever remain in our hearts, in the hearts of his fans, and in the sport he loved so dearly. With love and gratitude, The Hatton Family.”