The sudden death of boxing legend Ricky Hatton at 46 on September 14, 2025, has left the world in mourning, but it’s his whirlwind romance with Coronation Street star Claire Sweeney and her devastating final message that’s shattering hearts. The couple, who sparked a fiery love story after meeting on Dancing on Ice in January 2024, ended their relationship in December but remained close. Sweeney’s last Instagram post to Hatton, shared weeks before his passing, read, “Forever proud of you, @rickyhitmanhatton—shine on.” The poignant words, tied to his planned Dubai comeback, now echo with unbearable grief, flooding X with tears (#HattonSweeneyTragedy).

Hatton, a six-time world champion, and Sweeney, 54, fell hard during their eight-month romance, dazzling fans with trips to Tenerife and Mallorca and a red-carpet moment at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena. Their split, blamed on “clashing schedules,” didn’t dim their bond, with Sweeney telling The Sun, “Ricky’s still my mate.” The final message, posted to support his December 2, 2025, fight against Eisa Al Dah, has fans sobbing, with one X user writing, “Claire’s words were his last light.” Greater Manchester Police report no suspicious circumstances in Hatton’s death, but whispers of a health struggle persist.

Sweeney, silent since the tragedy, faces heartbreak as Hatton’s three children—Campbell, Holly, and Millie—grieve without a mother figure. Tributes from Tyson Fury and Amir Khan pour in, but Sweeney’s message stands out, a testament to a love that endured beyond romance. Was it a final farewell, or a hint at reconciliation? As Manchester mourns its “Hitman,” Sweeney’s words linger, a haunting reminder of a legend lost too soon.