Ricky Hatton's full dating history from Claire Sweeney to romance with Playboy model

Ricky Hatton leaves behind a legacy of triumphs and heartfelt connections that touched many lives, as fans and loved ones prepare to bid him a final farewell. The boxing legend tragically passed away at his home in Hyde, Manchester, at the age of 46 last month, plunging the sporting world into mourning.

In a poignant statement, Hatton's family described him as a man with "a heart as big as his smile," whose "kindness, humour and loyalty touched everyone who was lucky enough to know him." The outpouring of grief has been immense, with tributes pouring in from fellow fighters, celebrities, and fans who admired not just his ferocity as a two-weight world champion, but his vulnerability and warmth off the canvas.

As preparations continue for Hatton's funeral, which takes place on Friday, October 10, reflections on his life inevitably turn to the relationships that brought him joy amid personal battles. From whirlwind romances to enduring partnerships, The Hitman's love life was as colourful and resilient as his in-ring career. Here, Mirror Sport takes a look back at the women who shared special moments with the late star.

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Claire Sweeney

Ricky's most recent high-profile romance was with Coronation Street actress Claire Sweeney, a connection that blossomed unexpectedly after 25 years of friendship. The pair first crossed paths on ITV's Dancing On Ice in early 2024, where Hatton was the first celebrity to be eliminated - though that didn't stop sparks from flying during rehearsals.

A source close to the couple told the Mirror at the time: "The chemistry was electric. Ricky went out of the show early on but he contacted her afterwards and let's say he started wooing her. They've been out on several dates."

What began as tentative outings soon evolved into a full-fledged relationship, with the duo spotted on cosy pub crawls in Manchester and making their red-carpet debut together at the opening of the Co-op Live Arena in May 2024.

Claire, 54, who shares an eight-year-old son Jaxon with ex-partner Daniel Reilly, had been happily single before Hatton swept her off her feet. Speaking on ITV in July 2024, she reflected on their bond: "I've known Ricky for like 25 years... We've been in relationships and she's been in relationships. I've had my kids and she's had her kids. And then 25 years later we found each other. It's quite a nice story."

Sadly, the romance fizzled out around December 2024, but the pair parted as friends. Following Hatton's passing, Claire shared a heartbreaking three-word tribute: "Rest in peace."

Jennifer Dooley

For over a decade, Jennifer Dooley was Hatton's rock, sharing both the highs of his boxing glory and the lows of his personal struggles. The couple began dating in 2005, shortly after Hatton's iconic victory over Kostya Tszyu that cemented his status as a light-welterweight champion.

Together, they welcomed daughters Millie and Fearne, adding immeasurable joy to Hatton's life as a devoted dad. Hatton proposed to Jennifer on Valentine's Day in 2009, and the couple had two daughters, Mille, now 13, and Fearne, 12.

However, the pressures of fame, coupled with Hatton's well-documented battles with depression, alcohol, and substance abuse following defeats to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2007 and Manny Pacquiao in 2009, took a toll on the relationship.

By 2016, after images surfaced of Hatton partying heavily with other women, the 11-year partnership ended acrimoniously. Reflecting on the split years later, Hatton said: "It's very upsetting when you've been in such a long-term relationship and it comes to an end."

Marie Pollard

In the wake of his breakup with Jennifer, Hatton sought solace and fresh starts, leading to a brief romance with Marie Pollard. Their relationship lasted less than a year before they amicably split in 2017.

However, four years later, they rekindled their romance and revealed to followers that they were back together. The pair shared snaps from their loved-up Croatian holiday in 2021, while a source at the time revealed: "He's known Marie for years, but they've grown close again. Ricky's really happy."

But, just like their first go of things, the reconciliation only last a few months before they parted ways again. "Everyone thought it would really work out between them this time but they drifted apart and decided to cool things off earlier this year," a source told the Sun.

Angela Blemmings

Later that year, Hatton started dating beauty therapist Angela Blemmings. The pair went public that July, sharing loved-up snaps on social media from their romantic getaway in Dublin.

Angela accompanied Ricky to the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year ceremony in December, but their romance fizzled out in 2023 amid Hatton's focus on his son Campbell's burgeoning boxing career and his own recovery journey.

Chelsea Claire

Hatton's fling with glamour model Chelsea Claire in 2023 added a dash of glamour and spontaneity to his dating timeline. The 31-year-old, 14 years his junior, caught the boxer's eye during a sun-soaked break in Tenerife earlier that year.

Chelsea, known for her sultry Instagram posts and work with Playboy, shared cosy photos of the pair arm-in-arm, captioning one: "One of my favourite evenings in Tenerife... date night."

A source revealed to the Sun said: "Ricky and Chelsea had a great time together, but it ended up being more of a fling. They are at very different stages of their life and Ricky is really throwing himself into training and wants to concentrate on that. Things are still really amicable and they will be friends going forward."

Campbell's mother Claire

Campbell Hatton, who followed his father's footsteps into boxing, was born in 2001 during Ricky's short reconciliation period with ex-girlfriend Claire. The pair had been in an on-off relationship for a while, but ended their romance shortly after Campbell's birth.

Ricky would later set up a trust fund to make sure his son was always provided for and saw him every day. He later became Campbell's manager when the now-24-year-old began his pro boxing career in 2021, with Ricky's brother Matthew acting as trainer. Earlier this year, Campbell hired Ricky as his trainer. However, a few months later he announced his retirement from the sport.