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Ricky Hatton and Claire Sweeney attend the Co-op Live official welcome ceremony at Co-op Live on April 20, 2024 in Manchester<\/p>\nRicky Hatton previously spoke about his relationship with Claire Sweeney and said ’25 years later we found each other’Ricky Hatton and Claire Sweeney attend the Co-op Live official welcome ceremony at Co-op Live on April 20, 2024 in Manchester<\/p>\n
Ricky Hatton’s enjoyed an eight-month romance with Brookside and Coronation Street star Claire Sweeney.<\/p>\n
Their relationship captured headlines at the time, with the Mancunian boxer and the Scouse actress appearing to fall in love across an ice rink.<\/p>\n
Hatton – known as ‘The Hitman’ – was taking part in Dancing on Ice<\/a> in 2024 when he was re-acquainted with Sweeney, who played Corrie character Cassie Plummer.<\/p>\n Even though the pair had known each other for years, it wasn’t until they both signed up for the ITV<\/a> competition that they appeared to hit it off.<\/p>\n The couple were then spotted on a series of pub dates, including in Stockport, Greater Manchester.<\/p>\n READ MORE: <\/strong>How boxing world will honour Ricky Hatton as tribute confirmed<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n They then were captured on the red carpet together for the first time in May 2024 at the opening night of the \u00a3365m Co-op Live Arena, in Manchester.<\/p>\n Hatton and Sweeney shared photos on Instagram after posing together at the press boards for VIPs at the new arena’s welcome event.<\/p>\n Soon after, the couple enjoyed a sun-soaked holiday in Tenerife, Manchester Evening News reports.<\/a><\/p>\n Ricky confirmed in July 2024 that he and Sweeney had been dating for about five months.<\/p>\n Speaking about the relationship with Prime Casino, Hatton said: “I’ve known Claire for a while.<\/p>\n “I’ve met her at a few functions and at different events over the years.<\/p>\n “Every time we’ve spoken we’ve hit it off and got on with each other.”<\/p>\n The boxer said they got on ‘straight away’ during ice skating training and when the show kicked off, they ‘got on even better’.<\/p>\n Hatton added: “I knew how we had got on so well every time we met each other. I probably thought I had half a chance.<\/p>\n “It’s amazing [to find] someone you\u2019ve probably known for 25 years. I’ve been in relationships and she’s been in relationships.<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n He also joked to the Mirror<\/a> after his short-lived stint on Dancing on Ice: “I got knocked out in the first round, but I was able to able to meet Claire.<\/p>\n “I was always a Billy no mates at these things before Claire.”<\/p>\n He then said of their relationship: “Me and Claire have been together about five months now”.<\/p>\n The boxer then added: “Long may it continue!”<\/p>\n Sweeney previously told ITV’s Lorraine: “I\u2019ve known Ricky for, like, 25 years. We always passed each other at events.”<\/p>\n She continued: “We did a TV show together. First of all I met him in the early 2000s, then we did Dance for Comic Relief together in 2013. Then met on Dancing on Ice and it’s great…”<\/p>\n The former Brookside star then shared: “He makes me laugh, and we both like Only Fools and Horses, so what\u2019s not to like?”<\/p>\n But in December 2024 it was reported the pair had split.<\/p>\n