Ricky Hatton’s long-time manager discovered the body of his dear friend at the boxer’s residence in Hyde on Sunday morning, boxing commentator Steve Bunce has disclosed. Bunce, a close associate of Hatton, revealed he conversed with Hatton’s manager, Paul Speak, on Monday evening. He told the BBC: “He filled me in on a few details about the Friday night and the Saturday night.
“On the Saturday night, Ricky hadn’t gone to a boxing show. Speaky had found out Sunday morning. Speaky went round and let himself into the house. In fact it was Paul Speak who found his great friend and the people’s champion Ricky Hatton. Speaky deserves a little bit of love. You can’t even begin to imagine.
“It’s a 25-year relationship they’ve had as his commercial and business manager, but more than that it’s his close friend. It’s his confidant. I can’t think of another relationship like it in sport to be perfectly honest. So Speaky was the one that found him.”
He stated nobody understood Hatton better than Speak. Bunce and former boxer and Manchester City footballer Stacey Copeland, also a close companion of Hatton, appeared on BBC Five Live for a special ‘Remembering Ricky Hatton’ programme which broadcast on Monday evening.
Copeland said Hatton ‘dared to dream’ and recounted how she last encountered Hatton on Thursday at his gymnasium. She said: “‘He’d just finished training.’ Hatton was set to be in Dubai today, Monday, to sign a contract for a December bout against UAE fighter Eisa Al Dah.
“He was saying he had a problem with his elbow. It was starting to hurt. We just had a bit of a laugh, saying ‘you are knocking on now Rick’. That was it. To say it was a shock is a massive understatement.”
Greater Manchester Police announced on Sunday that 46-year-old Hatton had been found dead at his home with no suspicious circumstances. Tributes to Hatton, a former world welterweight champion, have been pouring in from across the sporting world and beyond.
On Monday, his family released a statement through Greater Manchester Police. “Richard was so much more than a world champion,” they expressed. “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.”
“To the wider world, Richard will always be remembered as one of boxing’s greatest champions – a man who gave everything inside the ring and wore his heart on his sleeve outside of it.”
Hatton’s crowning achievement was arguably his victory over Kostya Tszyu to win the IBF welterweight title at Manchester Arena in June 2005.
Hatton, known for his battles with boxing greats like Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao, won the hearts of fans worldwide with his humble nature. He has also been candid about his struggles with mental health following his retirement from the sport.