Thousands of people lined the streets on the day of Ricky Hatton’s funeral as Manchester paid an emotional farewell to one of the city’s favourite sons.
The beloved former two-weight world champion boxer was being laid to rest on Friday after being found dead at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester on September 14, aged 46.
The death of one of British sport’s most popular figures of modern times has led to a sustained outpouring of grief and tributes, with thousands of fans turning out for his funeral procession on Friday.
The journey began at Hatton’s local pub, the Cheshire Cheese in Gee Cross, this morning, before then visiting the Harehill Tavern.
Doves were released in Hatton’s memory outside the New Inn, with the procession also pausing at Hatton’s Gym and passing Hyde Town Hall, Betta Bodies Gym and the AO Arena before arriving at Manchester Cathedral, where a private memorial service was held from midday.
In attendance were boxing stars past and present including Tyson Fury, Amir Khan, Frank Bruno, Tony Bellew, Nigel Benn, Conor Benn and Barry McGuigan.
Other mourners included Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher, Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, TV presenter Paddy McGuinness and former England cricket star Andrew Flintoff, as well as Hatton’s former coach Billy Graham.
After that service, the procession - led by a replica of the Trotters’ yellow three-wheeled van from Only Fools and Horses, a programme Hatton loved - continued on to the Etihad Stadium, where more fans paid their respects at the home of Hatton’s beloved Manchester City.
Hatton’s coffin - carried by pallbearers including son Campbell, brother Matthew, nephew Jack and former manager Paul Speak - was sky blue and had ‘Blue Moon’ written on the side in reference to his lifelong love of City.
Hatton, nicknamed ‘The Hitman’, is an iconic figure in British boxing, having held multiple world titles at light-welterweight and also reigned as welterweight world champion during an illustrious professional career that began in 1997 and ended with a short-lived comeback in 2012.
Despite his global success, the humble and down-to-earth Hatton never forgot his roots and was immensely popular as a people’s champion, with thousands of devoted fans following him across the world - including for major fights in the United States against the likes of Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao.
Hatton’s incredible victory over the previously undefeated Kostya Tszyu in Manchester in 2005 to become a world champion for the first time remains one of the most memorable wins for any British fighter in boxing history.
After a final contest against Vyacheslav Senchenko in 2012, Hatton - who fought depression and was open over his previous battles with drink and drugs - worked as a trainer and in the media as well as campaigning for mental health and homeless charities.
He returned to the ring for an exhibition bout against Mexican great Marco Antonio Barrera in 2022 and had been due to face Eisa Al Dah in Dubai in December.
