Boxing legend Ricky Hatton received an emotional farewell this Friday in Manchester. The funeral procession, led by the iconic Reliant Robin from “Only Fools and Horses”, departed from the Cheshire Cheese pub, a landmark for Hatton.
Prominent figures such as Liam Gallagher, Tyson Fury, and Wayne Rooney joined the funeral cortege at Manchester Cathedral to honor the memory of the former two-weight world champion.
Hatton, known for his charisma and achievements in the ring, was found dead at his home in Hyde on September 14th, at the age of 46 years.
The funeral procession included significant stops at Hatton’s boxing gym and the AO Arena, where he experienced peak moments of his career, such as his victory over Kostya Tszyu two decades ago.
Thousands of people gathered in the streets to say goodbye to Hatton, with a private ceremony in the cathedral that began at noon.
Among the attendees, the presence of Gallagher, a close friend of Hatton, who accompanied him in his entrance to the ring in 2008, stood out.
The British boxing community, including Fury, Tony Bellew and Frank Bruno, was also present, as were former England cricket captain Andrew Flintoff and Manchester United star Rooney.
Billy Graham, Hatton’s former trainer, a key figure in his rise to boxing success, also joined the tribute.After the ceremony, the procession headed to the Etihad Stadium, home of Manchester City, Hatton’s favorite team.
The news of his death coincided with the Manchester derby, at which time a minute of applause was held in his honor by the players and fans of both teams.
Hatton, with an aggressive fighting style, amassed 45 victories and only three defeats in his career, earning the affection of the public and his colleagues.
His popularity spread to Las Vegas, where he starred in fights against Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, leaving an indelible mark on boxing history.
Hatton suffered his first professional defeat against Mayweather in 2007, and a knockout against Pacquiao in 2009 marked the beginning of his decline in elite boxing.
In 2012, a comeback attempt against Vyacheslav Senchenko highlighted Hatton’s difficulties after his retirement.
In addition to his sporting career, Hatton was a tireless advocate for mental health and collaborated with charities. He also ventured into coaching.
In 2022, he participated in a non-scoring exhibition against Marco Antonio Barrera, and in July he announced his return to the ring in Dubai for December. Greater Manchester Police reported that there are no suspicious circumstances in his death.
