Sports and Entertainment Figures Bid Farewell to Ricky Hatton
The world of sports and entertainment came together to bid farewell to former world boxing champion Ricky Hatton, in a moving ceremony held at Manchester Cathedral. Personalities such as Liam Gallagher, Tyson Fury, and Wayne Rooney were present to honor the memory of the iconic boxer.
Hatton, known for his charisma and achievements in the ring, unified the super lightweight division and conquered a world title in welterweight. His death, at the age of 46, shocked the sports community.
The funeral procession, which started from his local pub, the Cheshire Cheese, was led by the famous Reliant Robin from the series “Only Fools and Horses”. Hatton was a great admirer of the show and even bought one of the original vehicles.
The funeral cortege included stops at Hatton’s boxing gym and the AO Arena, the scene of some of his greatest triumphs, such as his victory over Kostya Tszyu two decades ago.
Thousands of people gathered in the streets to pay tribute to Hatton, while a private ceremony was held at the city’s cathedral.Hatton’s iconic Reliant Robin led the funeral procession.Among the attendees was Liam Gallagher, a close friend of Hatton, who accompanied him in his entrance to the ring in 2008.
The elite of British boxing was also present, with figures like Fury, Tony Bellew and Frank Bruno, as well as former English cricket captain Andrew Flintoff and Manchester United star Wayne Rooney.
Billy Graham, Hatton’s former coach, also attended, with whom he forged a close relationship from his beginnings in amateur boxing.Attendees at Ricky Hatton’s funeral.After the ceremony, the procession headed to the Etihad Stadium, home of Manchester City, a team of which Hatton was a fervent supporter.
The news of Hatton’s death was known hours before the Manchester derby, and a minute of applause was observed in his honor, by both the players and the fans of City and United.
Hatton’s action-packed fighting style earned him 45 wins and only three losses in 48 bouts, but it was his approachable personality that made him loved by professionals and fans around the world.
This was evidenced by the tens of thousands of followers who accompanied him to Las Vegas, where he faced Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, two of the best boxers of their time. The stories of the British fans singing “There’s only one Ricky Hatton” and drinking until they exhausted the city’s reserves are part of boxing folklore.
Hatton suffered his first professional defeat against Mayweather in 2007, and a knockout in the second round against Pacquiao two years later marked the beginning of his decline in elite boxing.
In 2012, a failed comeback attempt against Vyacheslav Senchenko highlighted Hatton’s difficulties in adapting to life outside the ring.
Hatton was a tireless ambassador for charities dedicated to mental health and to Barnabus, a Manchester organization that supports homeless and vulnerable people. In addition, he dedicated himself to being a coach, seeking to fill the void left by his boxing career.
After participating in a non-scored exhibition against Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera in 2022, Hatton announced in July his return to the ring for a professional fight in Dubai in December. He had resumed his training and his family stated that he was “in a good moment” and “excited about the future” before his death, for which Greater Manchester Police ruled out any suspicious circumstances.
