{"id":648277,"date":"2026-06-20T03:16:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T03:16:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/648277\/"},"modified":"2026-06-20T03:16:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T03:16:13","slug":"late-boxing-champ-ricky-hatton-would-be-so-proud-of-son-campbell-says-pal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/648277\/","title":{"rendered":"Late boxing champ Ricky Hatton would be \u2018so proud\u2019 of son Campbell says pal"},"content":{"rendered":"

EXCLUSIVE: Ricky Hatton who died in tragic circumstances last September would be so proud of his son as he announces his return to the ring, says Hatton’s manager Paul Speak\"ricky<\/p>\n

Hatton’s manager Paul Speak talked movingly at an event for The Ricky Hatton Foundation(Image: PA)<\/p>\n

Paul Speak,<\/a> the close friend and longtime manager of late boxing<\/a> world<\/a> champion Ricky Hatton<\/a>, has said Hatton would be delighted if he could see his only son now – who recently announced his return to the ring, in his dad\u2019s honour.<\/p>\n

Hatton died last September 14, aged just 46,<\/a> having been found unresponsive by Speak at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester. He left behind three children – Campbell, 25, Millie, 14, and Fearne, 13.<\/p>\n

Campbell, who said at the time that “‘heartbroken’ was an \u2018\u201cinsufficient word” to describe his loss, followed in his dad\u2019s footsteps to become a professional boxer, before retiring from the ring in 2024.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

Campbell Hatton was Ricky’s only son – and followed in his footsteps(Image: Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n

But just last week, the boxer, aka \u2018The Hurricane\u2019, made an unexpected career U-turn <\/a>by signing with Misfits Boxing, with plans to make a huge comeback to boxing.<\/p>\n

In honour of his father, the younger Hatton announced he would return in an exhibition card alongside Kell Brook, with the proceeds going to the Ricky Hatton Foundation<\/a>. He said after the shock announcement,: \u201cIt\u2019s all about doing [Ricky] proud. Buzzing. Can\u2019t wait to get things going again.\u201d<\/p>\n

And at the Mind x The Ricky Hatton Foundation charity auction in London on Thursday night, Speak told the Mirror<\/a> of future plans for the Foundation – including a charity football match in the autumn, which Hatton’s son will be playing at.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019ll be celebrities coming on board that we can\u2019t announce just yet. Campbell will definitely be on the pitch though. He\u2019s also involved in Misfits, of course. He’s doing really well.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Ricky would be so proud of Campbell if he could see him now. Everyone needs a focus in life, and if this gives him that drive and keeps him out of trouble, it\u2019s great for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Speak<\/p>\n

Speak addressing the crowd at the LAXBid Art Auction in aid of MIND and The Ricky Hatton Foundation(Image: Grant Buchanan\/Dave Benett\/Getty Images for LAX.bid London Auction Xchange)<\/p>\n

He added that the amount of love at the auction event for his late friend had made him deeply emotional.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, I feel that he should be here himself, shouldn’t he? But yes, we live our grief in public because of who Ricky was. I miss him every day.<\/a> I wish he was here.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be invited to this event was something else, to see someone bid \u00a37,000 for a painting and have the money go to the Ricky Hatton Foundation has been humbling – seeing how much Ricky was loved by everybody who ever met him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speak\u2019s own relationship with Hatton began nearly thirty years ago and he admits, he\u2019d never have dreamed that one day he would become the boxer\u2019s manager and confidante.<\/p>\n

\u201c We had some amazing times. It was life-changing in many ways for both of us. I\u2019ll cherish the memories. There were lots of good times, but there were some bad times.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoxing is like life, you get knocked down, you try and get up, and you move forward. But sometimes you get knocked down and just can\u2019t get up again, sadly.<\/p>\n

\"paul<\/p>\n

Smart and Hatton’s friendship went back three decades(Image: Instagram\/speak3536)<\/p>\n

\"Paul<\/p>\n

A stunning portrait of the late boxer was part of the auction(Image: Grant Buchanan\/Dave Benett\/Getty Images for LAX.bid London Auction Xchange)<\/p>\n

Opening up about his late pal\u2019s legacy, he says, \u201cHe\u2019ll probably be remembered as Britain\u2019s greatest boxer, not necessarily the best, but the greatest. People took Ricky to their hearts. People could talk to him about problems.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe had his own struggles with mental health, as we know. But I think he helped to remove the stigma attached to that<\/a>, to find the courage in difficult times and talk to someone about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

One memory he shares of Hatton, he says, is an example of the kind of warm-hearted man he was.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were in a van on the way to an event in Wigan, and he really needed the toilet. So, eventually I pulled up at a pub. Fifteen minutes went by, no sign of Ricky. So, I eventually went in and there he was, casually playing pool with the locals.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said Ricky, what are you doing, we’ve got somewhere to be?! He said, \u201cWell, they asked me to join in, what could I do?! Don\u2019t worry about it!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that was his attitude to life. He loved people, he wasn’t afraid to make a fool of himself and have a joke, and he loved life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok <\/a>, Snapchat <\/a>, Instagram <\/a>, Twitter <\/a>, Facebook <\/a>, YouTube <\/a>and Threads <\/a>.<\/p>\n