Liam Gallagher and Coleen and Wayne Rooney were among the celebrity guests who attended Ricky Hatton’s emotional funeral.
The boxing legend died aged 46 on Sunday, September 14 at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester, with police confirming the death was not being treated as suspicious.
Stars of the music, sporting, and acting worlds paid tribute to the former champion on Friday, with the procession beginning in Hyde and travelling into Manchester Cathedral, where the funeral took place.
Gallagher - who paid tribute to longtime friend Hatton at a recent Oasis concert - looked sombre as he attended the funeral with his partner Debbie Gwyther. He was pictured laying a hand on Hatton’s blue coffin as it was placed in the hearse.
The Rooneys were joined by other figures in the sporting world, including boxers Tommy and Tyson Fury and Amir Khan as well as Freddie Flintoff.
Hatton’s ex-girlfriend Claire Sweeney was seen breaking down in tears as she left the funeral.
Fans were able to gather along the route of the procession which started at Hatton’s local pub, The Cheshire Cheese, before travelling through various locations in Hyde and Denton, and heading into the city centre at midday.
After Manchester Cathedral, the procession ended at Etihad Stadium, home of Hatton’s beloved Manchester City FC.
Gallagher’s attendance at the funeral came two weeks after he and brother Noel commemorated Hatton during their Oasis gig in London as part of their ‘Live 25 comeback tour.
The rockers dedicated their 1994 song, Live Forever, to Hatton and flashed up a photo of the boxing icon on the arena’s screens as they performed to the 90,000-strong crowd.
Frontman Liam shared his “devastation” about Hatton’s death on social media last month.
He penned on X: “Absolutely devastated to hear the news about RICKY HATTON it was an absolute honour to know him and carry his belts RIP CHAMP LIVE FOREVER LG.”
He was referring to one of Hatton’s career highlights when, in 2008, Liam and Noel walked the fighter to the ring in Las Vegas ahead of his world-title clash with Paulie Malignaggi.
Hatton won the bout, later calling the moment a childhood dream come true.
Fellow funeral attendee Sweeney, who met Hatton while appearing alongside him on ITV’s Dancing on Ice last year, penned a heartfelt tribute to Hatton after his death.
Posting on Instagram, the Coronation Street star wrote: “My thoughts are with his family, especially his children Campbell, Millie, Fearne and Lyla, and his granddaughter.
“To them, Speaky (Paul Speak) and to all his friends who loved him so deeply and for so many years, I send you my deepest sympathy.
“Ricky, you were the people’s champ. We adored and cherished you. Love you always,” she added alongside a slew of images and clips set to Elvis Presley’s If I Can Dream.
Hatton, nicknamed “The Hitman,” was one of Britain’s most popular boxers, admired for his relentless style and down-to-earth personality. He became a household name in the 2000s, winning multiple world titles at light-welterweight and welterweight.
In 2007, he famously took thousands of British fans to Las Vegas for his blockbuster fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr – his first professional defeat. Two years later he was knocked out by Manny Pacquiao, and his final professional bout came in 2012 against Vyacheslav Senchenko.
Despite those setbacks, Hatton’s career record stood at an impressive 45 wins and just three defeats.
