Ricky Hatton's son hopes family can heal after inquest into boxing legend's death

Ricky Hatton's son, Campbell, hopes that he and the rest of the boxing legend's family can start to heal following the inquest into his tragic earlier passing this week

View 2 Images

Ricky Hatton's son has told how he hopes he and the tragic boxer's family will be able to begin "healing" following his death.

Campbell, 24, was left devastated by his father's death last month and helped carry his coffin at his star-studded funeral at Manchester Cathedral last week. An inquest earlier this week heard Ricky, 46, was found hanged at his home in Hyde.

Speaking about the funeral, which saw a number of famous names turn out, including Liam Gallagher, Wayne Rooney and Andrew Flintoff, Campbell said: “It was great to see all the people at the funeral showing their support.

"But I’m glad it’s out of the way now so we can start, as a family, trying to… we’ll never get over it… but start healing.”

Hatton's long-time manager Paul Speak found the much-loved former world champ, known as The Hitman, unresponsive at the £1.7million home where he lived by himself, early on September 14. Ricky, a dad-of-three, had previously spoken openly about his drink and drug use as well as mental health battles. His family have now set up a charity in his name to help others, but Campbell, himself a former boxer, admits he still cannot face going into the home where his dad died.

He said: “He was the best any of us have ever seen him. He had mellowed with age. He wasn’t going out on crazy drinking benders.

View 2 Images

"He was spending loads of time with his girls [Millie, 13, and Fearne, 12] and Lyla, [Campbell’s seven-year-old daughter].

"He was dead busy with stuff in the gym. He had loads he was looking forward to. When he was really in his dark place, it would’ve been just as heartbreaking, but it wouldn’t have been as much of a shock."

Campbell added: “Everyone said we were like carbon copies. It’s crazy how similar we were. It’s a bit weird for his mates a lot of the time. We were having a drink in there the other day with a few of the lads and they were saying it was like he’s still here.

“He was down to earth. That’s what people liked. But he knew how proud everyone was of him and he knew how loved he was as well.”