The sporting community has been left reeling following the heartbreaking revelation surrounding Ricky Hatton’s death.
Once celebrated for his courage and charisma inside the ring, the British boxing icon’s final days have now been laid bare during an inquest in Manchester.
The court confirmed on Thursday that Hatton, fondly known as The Hitman, died by suicide. Coroner Alison Mutch opened the inquest at South Manchester Coroners’ Court, detailing the circumstances surrounding the 46-year-old’s death, as per Sky Sports News.
According to evidence heard, Hatton was discovered unresponsive in his bedroom on September 14 by his long-time friend and manager, Paul Speak. Police coroner’s officer Alison Catlow shared details of the discovery, explaining that the retired champion had been last seen by his family two days earlier, appearing to be in good spirits.
When Hatton failed to appear at an event on September 13 and later missed a scheduled departure for Dubai on the morning of the 14th, where he was due to attend a press conference announcing his planned boxing comeback, Speak went to check on him, only to find him lifeless.
Hatton’s sudden passing devastated his family, friends, and millions of devoted fans. His funeral took place on October 12 at Manchester Cathedral, where crowds gathered along the streets to pay their final respects. The procession moved past landmarks that defined his career and hometown pride, capturing the profound loss felt across the nation.
During a glittering career spanning from 1997 to 2012, Hatton rose from Manchester’s boxing scene to global stardom. He became one of Britain’s most beloved fighters, winning multiple world titles at super-lightweight and welterweight. His 2005 victory over the formidable Kostya Tszyu remains one of the most iconic moments in British boxing history, earning him worldwide acclaim.
Following that triumph, he unified the IBF and WBA belts before stepping up to welterweight and capturing another title with a win over Luis Collazo. Hatton later faced Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in high-profile bouts that defined an era of modern boxing, earning respect even in defeat.
Although he retired in 2011, Hatton’s fighting spirit never faded. His brief 2012 comeback against Vyacheslav Senchenko reignited hopes of another return, one that was tragically cut short before it began.
Be the first to know – Join our WhatsApp Channel for content worth tapping into! Click here to join!
Also read:
Picture: Gallo Images
