Ricky Hatton — watch collection

About Ricky Hatton’s watch collection

Ricky Hatton is one of Britain's most celebrated professional boxers, born in Stockport and raised in Manchester. At his peak in the 2000s, Hatton unified the IBF and WBA light welterweight titles, finishing his career with a record that included wins over world-class opponents such as Kostya Tszyu and Carlos Maussa. Known for his all-action fighting style and enormous domestic fanbase — the so-called 'Hatton Army' — he became one of the best-loved figures in British boxing history. Since retiring from the ring, he has remained prominent in the sport as a promoter and trainer through Hatton Promotions, based in Hyde, Greater Manchester.

The Ricky Hatton watch collection, as spotted by our cameras, leans toward the bolder end of the Rolex catalogue. Hatton has been photographed wearing the Rolex GMT-Master II reference 116718LN — a now-discontinued piece built in 18ct yellow gold and fitted with a black Cerachrom ceramic bezel and, in his particular example, a distinctive green dial. The 116718LN was introduced at Baselworld 2007 and was notable for being among the first GMT-Master II references to feature the first-generation monobloc Cerachrom bezel in a full precious metal case. It is a watch that carries genuine horological significance beyond its obvious visual weight.

The choice of a full yellow gold GMT-Master II with a green dial says something fairly clear about Hatton's approach to watches: he is not chasing subtlety. For a fighter who sold out Manchester Arena repeatedly and headlined at Madison Square Garden, a restrained dress watch was never going to be the obvious fit. The 116718LN is a discontinued reference with real collector interest, and spotting it on Hatton's wrist places him firmly among those who wear Rolex not just for the name but for a specific reference with a history behind it.