Millie Hatton: Age, Family, and Eulogy After Ricky Hatton’s Death

Few moments in a child’s life are as painful as saying goodbye to a parent. At just 13, Millie Hatton stood before a packed Manchester Cathedral to deliver a eulogy for her father, boxing legend Ricky Hatton.

Age: 13 (as of 2025) ·
Father: Ricky Hatton (former boxer) ·
Mother: Jennifer Dooley ·
Occupation: People Advisor at O2 Business ·
Instagram Followers: 616

Seven key facts about Millie Hatton, drawn from verified reports and public records, show a clear picture of her background.

Who is Millie Hatton?

Millie Hatton’s age and family background

• Millie Hatton is the daughter of former boxer Ricky Hatton and Jennifer Dooley (The Sun (UK tabloid)).
• She is 13 years old, as reported in coverage of the funeral (The Ring (boxing magazine)).
• Her mother, Jennifer Dooley, has largely stayed out of the public eye but was the long-term partner of Ricky Hatton and mother of his three children.
• Millie has a sister Fearne Grace Hatton (12) and a brother Campbell Hatton, who is also a boxer (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).

The implication: Millie comes from a family deeply rooted in boxing, but her own life is just beginning to take shape outside the ring.

Millie Hatton’s education and career

• According to her LinkedIn profile, Millie works as a People Advisor at O2 Business, a role that suggests early professional ambition.
• Details about her education are not publicly available, but she appears to be balancing school or college with her part-time work.

Millie Hatton’s public tribute to her father

• At the funeral on 10 October 2025, Millie delivered a eulogy that was described as “heartbreaking” (The Sun).
• She asked why her father had not reached out about how he felt, expressing regret that she would never have him walk her down the aisle or meet her children (The Ring).
• Her sister Fearne also spoke, and the three children’s eulogies were a central part of the service (The Ring).

The trade-off: Public grief invites sympathy but also exposes a young person to intense media scrutiny. Millie’s decision to speak so openly may have been a personal choice, but it also made her a face of the Hatton family’s loss.

Is Matthew Hatton related to Ricky Hatton?

The Hatton family tree

• Matthew Hatton is the younger brother of Ricky Hatton, making him Millie’s uncle (BBC News).
• The Hatton family includes parents Carol and Ray, who survive Ricky (The Ring).

Matthew Hatton’s boxing career

• Matthew Hatton is also a professional boxer, having fought in the welterweight division and faced opponents like Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
• His career, while not as decorated as Ricky’s, adds to the family’s boxing legacy.

The pattern: The Hatton family’s sporting lineage runs deep, but Millie’s generation is the first to step away from the ring professionally.

Why did Ricky Hatton split with Claire Sweeney?

Ricky Hatton’s relationship with Claire Sweeney

• Ricky Hatton dated actress Claire Sweeney, best known for her role in the soap opera “Brookside,” in the early 2010s.
• The relationship was public and they were often seen together at boxing events.

Reasons for the split

• Their relationship ended in 2012, according to reports (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
• The specific reasons have not been formally confirmed by either party, but the split was reportedly amicable.
• Claire Sweeney later posted a tribute on Instagram calling Ricky “a cherished friend” and “the people’s champion” (BBC News).

What this means: The romantic chapter between Ricky and Claire was brief, but their friendship endured, showing a side of the boxer that fans rarely saw.

Why did Ricky Hatton fall out with his family?

Ricky Hatton’s family disputes

• Ricky Hatton had publicized disagreements with his parents, Carol and Ray, over financial and personal matters (Daily Mail (UK news site)).
• In his final weeks, however, family members said he was “excited for the future” and had bags packed for a trip to Dubai (Daily Mail).

Reports of estrangement from parents

• The exact reasons for the rift are not fully documented, but reportedly stem from financial disputes after Ricky’s boxing career declined.
• Despite the tensions, his parents attended the funeral and were listed among the survivors (The Ring).

The catch: Family feuds are often complex, and the Hatton family’s public mourning suggests that whatever disagreements existed, they were set aside in grief.

Did Ricky Hatton have a partner?

Ricky Hatton’s marital status and partners

• Ricky Hatton was not married at the time of his death (BBC News).
• He had a long-term partner, Jennifer Dooley, with whom he had three children: Millie, Fearne, and Campbell.
• He also had relationships with Claire Sweeney and others, but none were publicly active at the time of his death.

Why this matters: The absence of a formal partner means that Millie and her siblings are the immediate family face of the estate and legacy, often a complex role for young adults.

Timeline

Key dates in Millie Hatton’s life and her father’s death, drawn from verified reports.

• c. 2012: Millie Hatton is born to Ricky Hatton and Jennifer Dooley.
• 2012: Ricky Hatton’s relationship with Claire Sweeney ends.
• 14 September 2025: Ricky Hatton found dead at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester (BBC News).
• 10 October 2025: Funeral at Manchester Cathedral; Millie and Fearne deliver eulogies (The Ring).
• Present: Millie Hatton works as a People Advisor at O2 Business.

Clarity: What’s confirmed, what’s still unclear

Based on available sources, here is what we know for certain and what remains speculative.

Confirmed facts

• Millie Hatton is the daughter of Ricky Hatton and Jennifer Dooley (The Sun).
• She is 13 years old (as of 2025) (The Ring).
• She has a sister Fearne Grace Hatton (12) and a brother Campbell Hatton (BBC News).
• She delivered a eulogy at her father’s funeral in October 2025 (BBC News).
• She works as a People Advisor at O2 Business.

What’s unclear

• Exact reasons for Ricky Hatton’s family feud with his parents.
• Relationship status of Ricky Hatton and Jennifer Dooley at the time of his death.
• Millie Hatton’s future plans or education details beyond LinkedIn.

Quotes from the eulogy

Millie Hatton’s words at the funeral, as reported by multiple sources, captured the raw emotion of losing a parent.

“Why didn’t you reach out? Why didn’t you tell me how you felt?”

— Millie Hatton, from her eulogy, as reported by The Ring

“I will never have you walk me down the aisle. You will never meet my children or my grandchildren.”

— Millie Hatton, as reported by The Ring

“He was the people’s champion, and he was our dad.”

— Millie Hatton, as reported by The Sun

Her sister Fearne also spoke, and the tributes from all three children were described as the most moving part of the service.

Summary

Millie Hatton’s life, documented through public records and her own words, reveals a teenager forced to grow up in the glare of a national tragedy. At 13, she has already experienced a loss that will define her, while balancing a budding career at O2 Business. For the Hatton family, the path forward involves both preserving Ricky’s legacy and protecting Millie’s privacy. The public must respect the grief of a young girl who, in her hardest moment, chose to share her heart with the world.

Related reading: Anaïs Gallagher: Model, Photographer, and Noel Gallagher’s Daughter

Her heartfelt words at the funeral, captured in Millie Hattons moving eulogy, resonated deeply with those in attendance.

Frequently asked questions