Ricky Hatton, 45, and Claire Sweeney, 52, have reportedly been romantically involved for weeks following their encounter on Dancing on Ice. The boxer and Coronation Street actress are described as deeply enamored with one another.
Witnesses observed the couple partaking in a pub crawl in Ricky’s hometown of Greater Manchester earlier this month.
Sources reveal they shared an “electric chemistry” from the moment they met during rehearsals for the ITV reality show.
And sources disclosed that the recent get-together was just one of many dates they’ve enjoyed since March.
Claire, previously contentedly single, reportedly had her head turned by Ricky, affectionately known as “The Hitman” during his boxing career.
A source said:
“The chemistry was electric. Ricky went out of the show early on but he contacted her afterwards and let’s say he started wooing her. They’ve been out on several dates.
“Saturday was just one in a long line of them. They’ve been seeing each other quite a bit. He is completely besotted.
“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 so they are being very careful. Let’s watch this space.”
Ricky and Claire were spotted enjoying a night out with friends in Greater Manchester last Saturday. Claire looked stunning in a black dress paired with silver heels, her arm affectionately draped around Ricky’s neck.
Later, Ricky gallantly draped his jacket over her shoulders to keep her warm.The couple also made a public appearance over the weekend at Liverpool’s Hot Water Comedy Club, where Ricky shared pictures of them sharing laughs over drinks.
Just two days earlier, images surfaced of them enjoying another evening out, this time featured on a social media page for The Crown Heaton Moor pub in Ricky’s hometown of Stockport, Greater Manchester.
Ricky, a former light welterweight and welterweight champion, has a son named Campbell from a previous relationship in his twenties with another woman also named Claire.
His most notable relationship was with his former fiancée Jennifer Dooley, whom he dated from 2005 until 2016.
Jennifer ended their relationship following a series of alcohol-fueled nights where Ricky was photographed with other women.
Rumors have circulated about Ricky’s alleged associations, including Playboy models Carla Howe and Chelsea Claire, as well as Marie Pollard, Charlie Nordell, and Angela Blemmings.
Prior to her involvement with Ricky, Claire, a Liverpool native, was romantically linked with Tony Hibbard from 2001 until 2007.
Her last known relationship was with Daniel Reilly, the father of their eight-year-old son, Jaxon. The couple parted ways in 2017.
She shared,
“I really want to be with someone who makes me laugh. Someone who’s kind. Someone I will click with.
So, someone like that, it just wouldn’t be about aesthetics OK, there’s an initial attraction but I want it to be more than aesthetics, that’s the type of person I’m looking for.”