There are fears for boxing legend Ricky Hatton after he sent a desperate message to fans saying 'I have nothing left' during an online meltdown.

The British former world champion sent the tweet from Tenerife, Spain, where he currently lives, just after midnight on Saturday.

Hatton was said to be struggling after a series of arguments with fiancée Jennifer Dooley, 35.

There are fears for boxing legend Ricky Hatton after he sent a desperate message to fans saying 'I have nothing left' during an online meltdown

Ricky Hatton's tweet, which caused concern among his friends and family

His parents, Carol and Ray, who live near Manchester, tried to get in touch with friends in Spain to check their son was alright, reported The Sunday Mirror.

Ray told the newspaper: 'It’s what people are feeling at certain times. It’s one of those things. He’s fine.'

Fans tweeted messages of support, with one commenting: 'Chin up, champ.'

Hatton put his professional career on hold after losing to Manny Pacquiao in 2009 and now works as a boxing promoter.

Fans reply to Hatton's tweet with messages of support

The 37-year-old was recently pictured drinking champagne and smoking at a pool party in Puerto Banus, near Marbella.

Hatton has previously spoken about his fondness for alcohol and drugs.

He once said: 'I know that the drink and everything else was killing me.

'The depression which followed not only that defeat by Pacquiao but all the bingeing took me to the brink of suicide. That won’t happen again.'

The British former world champion (pictured here fighting Carlos Vilches) sent the message from his home in Tenerife, Spain, just after midnight on Saturday

Hatton put his professional career on hold after losing to Manny Pacquiao in 2009 and now works as a boxing promoter. He is pictured here preparing to fight Floyd Mayweather

During his boxing heyday, Hatton won world titles at light-welterweight and welterweight and is one of Britain's best-loved sportsmen.

His memorably emphatic wins over Kostya Tszyu and Jose Luis Castillo earned him a fight against pound-for-pound great Floyd Mayweather in December 2007.

Thousands of British fans travelled to Las Vegas to watch their hero in action and infamously 'drank the Strip dry' during their weekend away in Sin City.

His only two career losses - aside from an ill-fated comeback fight in 2012 - were against Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

A spokesman last night confirmed Ricky is 'ok'.