Careful, Claire Sweeney! New flame Ricky Hatton comes with a turbulent past – from dating a Playboy model 14 years his junior to divorcing his daughters’ mother who was ‘fed up with his partying ways’

He is said to be ‘absolutely smitten’ with Claire Sweeney after the pair met while competing on this year’s series of Dancing On Ice.

But if his past relationships are anything to go by, Ricky Hatton, 45, isn’t always the luckiest in love.

The British former professional boxer split from his fiancee Jennifer Dooley, mother of his two daughters, Millie, 11, and Fearne, 10, in 2016 after 11 years together.

Since then he has had a series of failed romances – from beauty therapist Angela Blemmings to Playboy model Chelsea Claire, who was 14 years his junior.

But could the sportsman’s luck be about to change? He looked loved-up with fellow Dancing on Ice star Claire, 52, in Manchester on Sunday.

The pair, who are both believed to be single, wrapped their arms around each other as they enjoyed a pub crawl.

A source said The sun: ‘They became friends on Dancing On Ice and really hit it off. Things have since turned romantic and they have enjoyed a few dates. It’s early days but they’ve got a spark and have been having a great time.’

According to another source, the pair have been on a series of dates and Ricky is ‘completely smitten’.

They told Mirror: ‘The chemistry was electric. Ricky left the show early, but he contacted her afterwards and let’s just say he started wooing her.

‘They have been out on several dates. Saturday was just one in a long line of them. They have seen each other quite a bit. He is completely captivated.

‘It seems like an unlikely match, but he’s always had a way with women. They fall for his personality and so does Claire.’

So can the actress finally stop Ricky from being unlucky in love? Here, FEMAIL details the former boxer’s past relationships from his turbulent love life…

JENNIFER DOOLEY

In his early 20s, Ricky had a brief relationship with a woman known only as Claire, who went on to have a boxer son, Campbell Hatton – born on 9 January 2001.

Ricky – born in Stockport, Greater Manchester, in 1978 – had his longest relationship with Jennifer Dooley, from 2005 to 2016.

Jennifer was there for some of the high points of his career, seeing him win or retain multiple world titles, as well as being there for the presentation of his MBE in the 2007 New Year Honours.

Lecturer Jennifer even quit her job at Manchester College of Art and Technology in 2007 to go and watch his title fight against Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas, which the undefeated British fighter lost.

Ricky proposed to Jennifer on Valentine’s Day in 2009. He named the couple’s ill-fated house in Cheshire ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ after Elvis Presley’s hit song.

In 2010, a video of Ricky taking cocaine was leaked, leading to him entering rehab with Jennifer standing by his side.

Another month later, however, Irish boxing champion Emma Bowe told Mirror of how she had had an 11-month affair with the boxer after getting his autograph in Dublin.

A rocky period between Jennifer and Ricky following the fighter’s retirement in 2012 included him moving in and out of their £3million home several times.

A holiday bust-up in December 2013 led to Ricky moving out, and after moving back in months later, in June 2014, he moved out for a second time after going AWOL during a boozy trip to Lanzarote.

But their turbulent years were put behind them in the new year when they went on holiday to Tenerife with their two daughters.

In 2016, another string of drinks-filled nights for Ricky put an end to his and Jennifer’s 11-year relationship after he was pictured looking worse partying with other girls in his arms.

Friends told the Sunday People at the time that Jennifer was tired of her partying so their long-running romance ended.

Ricky said of Jennifer: ‘It’s very upsetting when you’ve been in such a long relationship and it comes to an end. I cannot deny that there are times when I have had a hard time.’

The year after that split, Ricky enjoyed a night out with Playboy model Carla Howe – but rumors of a romance were never confirmed.

MARIE POLLARD

In 2017, Ricky started a relationship with long-term ‘bezzie’ Marie Pollard, with the then 39-year-old posting a number of snaps with his new partner throughout the year.

On one of their most entertaining early dates, Ricky hoped to take Marie to the Church Inn, but instead of an alehouse, the pair ended up in a God’s house.

A source told The Sun about the star’s romance with Marie: ‘He’s known Marie for years but now they’ve become close.

‘Since his split from Jennifer, Ricky has had a tough time with love. He’s made a name for himself as a fighter, but in reality he’s just a big softie.

‘He has been friends with Marie for years, but it is only recently that they have become close. Marie stays in good shape and caught Ricky. And like his career, he certainly punches above his weight.’

Despite meeting Ricky’s family and spending time with him watching another thing close to his heart – Manchester City FC – the couple had split in July 2018.

Ricky managed to rekindle his romance with Marie in 2021, but only for less than 12 months as the former boxer went public with new girlfriend Angela Blemmings in July 2022.

CHARLIE NORDELL

Shortly after his first split with Marie in 2018, Ricky shares a gallery of photos with his new boyfriend, Charlie Nordell, on a trip to Las Vegas.

The pair stayed at the prestigious Caesar’s Palace hotel and posed for a series of lovey-dovey snaps to celebrate their romantic getaway.

The sportsman commented: ‘Nice to go to Vegas for a night and not get knocked out.’

He affectionately called Charlie ‘the fun police’ as she was one of those who had tried to keep Ricky cool since his retirement in 2012.

However, the couple split after two years, with a source telling The Sun they ‘wanted other things’ as Charlie planned a move to Dubai in 2020.

At the time, a rep for Ricky said: ‘The split was amicable, they keep in touch and remain friends.’

ANGELA BLEMMINGS

The former boxer went public with his then-girlfriend Angela Blemmings in July 2022.

He took the beauty therapist – owner of EyeCandy beauty salon in Stalybridge – on a romantic holiday to Dublin.

Ricky was also preparing for a delayed comeback fight against Marco Antonio Barrera that fall, showing a slim figure despite indulging in a few pints of Guinness on the trip.

Angela became Instagram official with Ricky on June 30, 2022, when she shared a cozy selfie of the two of them and wrote, “Lovely afternoon with the best company.”

Angela shared the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year red carpet with Ricky in December.

But the following year was decidedly less festive for the couple as they went their separate ways.

CHELSEA CLAIRE

Ricky ended up with another Playboy model – Chelsea Claire – in 2023, but this ‘ended up being more of a fling’ according to a Sun insider.

Their split was revealed in January 2024, shortly before Ricky was due to make his Dancing on Ice debut.

The former boxer and the stunner, then 31, went public with their romance in October 2023 after sharing several loved-up photos of themselves on Instagram.

An insider told The sun: ‘Ricky and Chelsea had a great time together, but it ended up being more of a romp.

‘They are at very different stages of their lives and Ricky really throws himself into training and wants to concentrate on it. Things are still really friendly and they will be friends going forward.’

A representative for Ricky declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline at the time. MailOnline contacted Chelsea for comment.

The couple enjoyed a trip to sunny Tenerife in August 2023, but are said to be ‘taking things slow’, becoming Instagram official in October.

Chelsea works as a model for Playboy and regularly shares cheeky snaps on social media.