The news of Hatton's passing has stunned Manchester, British boxing and the wider sporting world.

Hatton was synonymous with the city, having grown up there before winning a legion of local fans. It feels like a cruel twist that he has passed away on a Manchester derby matchday at the Etihad - one of the biggest games in the calendar.

The boxer wore sky blue shorts and used Blue Moon - City's anthem - as his walkout song throughout his career and cemented himself as one of the club's most loyal and recongisable fans.

And in 2008, he fulfilled the dream of fighting Juan Lazcano at the Etihad Stadium.

Three years earlier, he made history in front of a packed home crowd at the MEN Arena when he defeated Russia's Kostya Tszyu to go from underdog to boxing sensation overnight.

Hatton was also a massive Oasis fan and one of his most memorable moments was when Noel and Liam Gallagher walked him into the ring holding his world title belts before his 2008 bout against Paulie Malignaggi in Las Vegas.

Perhaps the Oasis comeback tour played a role in his own decision to return to the ring in December.