Ricky Hatton penned a sweet Happy Birthday message to his new girlfriend, Claire Sweeney.
While renowned for crushing his opponents in the ring with devastating body shots, ‘The Hitman’ is more than just a mere brawler. Behind his fearsome reputation stands a charismatic figure who’s not shy of singing his love from the rooftops.
It’s said that the 45-year-old retired sportsman is “besotted” with Coronation Street star Claire, 53. And he clearly has no problem expressing his feelings, having taken to Instagram to deliver an adorable message to the star.
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Posting a picture of himself in a sequined top and Claire with her blonde hair styled to perfection, the power puncher wrote: “Happy birthday, Caire. Have the best day gorgeous. Lots of love. Ricky. xxx @claire.sweeney,” proceeded by a heart emoji.
(Image: rickyhitmanhatton/Instagram)
The pair first met while filming Dancing on Ice, with Ricky initially expected to cruise to the final due to the athleticism he so often exhibited inside the squared circle. Sadly, the two-weight world champion couldn’t quite get his head around figure skating.
Ultimately, the Mancunian’s lack of ability on the ice resulted in the combat sports icon crashing out of the competition first. It could have ended his budding relationship before it even had the chance to get off the ground.
(Image: rickyhitmanhatton/Instagram)
However, having caught feelings, he reportedly picked up the phone and contacted Claire, determined to make a go of it. The Corrie star agreed to go on a date with the 45-year-old, and the pair have been going strong ever since, having reportedly enjoyed some boozy evenings together.
They recently went public with their relationship, posting several photos of a pub date on Instagram, much to the delight of fans who are thrilled to see the couple enjoying each other’s company.
(Image: Getty Images)
A source told The Daily Mirror: “It seems like an unlikely match, but he’s always had a way with women. They fall for his personality, and Claire has. He knows her number one priority is her son [Jaxon, nine], so they are being very careful. Let’s watch this space.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
