Ricky Hatton has ignited speculation that he’s rekindled his romance with soap star Claire Sweeney, just two months after their split.
The pair initially sparked a relationship when they both participated in ITV’s Dancing on Ice last year, but their whirlwind love affair ended abruptly after about eight months.
Despite this, reports in December suggested they intended to remain close friends. Now, an Instagram post by boxing legend Ricky, 46, featuring a glamorous photo of himself and 53-year-old Claire, alongside radio presenter Peter Price, has led fans to believe they may have reunited, the Mirror reports.
Claire, who currently portrays Cassie Plummer in Coronation Street, had known Ricky for many years before they reconnected on the ITV show last year. The recent photo prompted a flurry of comments from fans, convinced that Claire, originally from Walton, Liverpool, is back with the ex-boxer.
One follower commented: “Old pic, shame they’ve split up.” Another wrote: “Great photo of the three of you x”. A third penned: “Blimey Claire! Should be criminal to look that good!” While a fourth questioned: “They back together?”
Ricky, a native of Stockport, Greater Manchester, was a professional boxer from 1997 to 2012, holding multiple world championships in the light-welterweight division.
Claire, who shares a son with her ex-partner Daniel Reilly, rose to fame playing Lindsey Corkhill in over 1,600 episodes of Brookside.
Fans were left gobsmacked when Claire and Ricky, who was honoured with an MBE in 2007 for his contributions to sport, revealed their relationship last year following a lavish getaway to Tenerife.
However, the couple parted ways in December, and a source disclosed: “Claire and Ricky remain good friends, there has been no fallout between them. They decided they’re better off as pals and are no longer romantically together.”
The source further noted that despite having many common interests, it was their differing lifestyles that led to the split.
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