Boxing great Ricky Hatton was found hanged, an inquest heard today.
Hatton, who won world titles in two weight divisions, was found dead at his Manchester home by his manager and long-time friend Paul Speak last month. He was laid to rest last week as fans lined the city streets before a service was held at Manchester cathedral.
And this morning, an inquest was opened into his death with coroner Alison Mutch telling the court Hatton was found unresponsive in his bedroom by Mr Speak who was due to accompany the fighter to Dubai the same day for a press conference to officially announce his comeback fight.
Police coroner’s officer Alison Catlow told the court Hatton lived alone and was last seen by his family on September 12, when he ‘appeared well’. Hatton did not show up to a scheduled event the following day before But Mr Speak found him “unresponsive” on Sunday, September 14.
A post-mortem examination was carried out and although the full results are not yet known, a provisional cause of death was given as ‘hanging’. A full inquest will take place on March 20.
Mr Speak had previously said: "I firmly believe he didn't intend to do it... he had it all to live for." He recalled the "shock and confusion" of discovering Hatton at his £1.7million home, where he let himself in before "hearing music coming from upstairs".
The former world champion had revealed his suicidal thoughts and problems with addiction in the past but his family have said he was in a “good place” before his death. Mr Speak told Boxing News Magazine: “The lights weren't on, which I thought was strange. I thought he’d overslept, but it's not unusual. People do oversleep.
“I heard music coming from upstairs, so I went upstairs… I took a look at him… I had to take some time to process it. I was in a state of shock and confusion and loss and many more emotions. Then I called the police and the ambulance. But I firmly believe he didn't intend to do it. It's for the coroner to determine, but he had it all to live for.”
Hatton had appeared in good spirits in the days before his death. His final post on Instagram showed him keeping fit in the gym ahead of a highly-anticipated return to the ring in December. He also filmed an uplifting video in his final week for a child who was the victim of bullying.
Ricky’s manager added: “If this was 10 years ago, it wouldn't have been as big a shock as it was. I've been with Ricky to the very highest mountains in boxing to the lowest chasm in life.”
In an emotional statement after Ricky’s death, his family said: “Richard was so much more than a world champion. To us he was simply ‘Richard’, our son. A loving father, grandfather and brother, and a true friend to many. He had a heart as big as his smile and his kindness, humour and loyalty touched everyone who was lucky enough to know him.”
Last Friday, thousands of mourners lined the streets to pay tribute to Hatton, with a private memorial service at the city’s cathedral. In attendance was Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher, a long-time friend of Hatton who accompanied him on his ring walk against Paulie Malignaggi in 2008.
The great and good of British boxing also turned out, with Fury, Tony Bellew and Frank Bruno, as well as former England cricket captain Andrew Flintoff and former Manchester United star Rooney, arriving at the cathedral. Also among the mourners was Hatton’s former trainer Billy Graham, from whom he was virtually inseparable on his journey from the amateur ranks to the top of the boxing world.
Following the service, during which Hatton's three children read eulogies, the commemorative march headed to the Etihad Stadium, the home of Hatton’s beloved Manchester City. News of Hatton’s death was announced just hours before the Manchester derby at Eastlands, with a minute’s applause held immediately ahead of kick-off by players and fans of both City and United.
Hatton’s all-action style brought him 45 wins and three defeats from 48 contests, but it was his down-to-earth demeanour that especially endeared him to fellow professionals and fans around the world.
That was evidenced by tens of thousands following him to Las Vegas, where he fought the two pound-for-pound greatest fighters of his era in Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, with stories of UK fans singing ‘there’s only one Ricky Hatton’ and drinking Sin City dry going down in boxing folklore.
Hatton suffered his first professional defeat when he was stopped by Mayweather in 2007, while a vicious second-round knockout by Pacquiao two years later precipitated his fall from top-level boxing. A misguided comeback attempt against Vyacheslav Senchenko in 2012 marked the first public admission Hatton was struggling to cope in retirement.
He was a tireless ambassador for mental health charities as well as Manchester-based Barnabus, which supports homeless and vulnerable people, and turned his hand to being a successful trainer in an attempt to fill the void.
Having participated in a no-scoring exhibition against Mexico’s Marco Antonio Barrera in 2022, Hatton had announced in July he would return to the ring in a professional bout in Dubai in December against Eisa Al Dah.
For mental health support, contact the Samaritans on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.