The former world champion boxer was found dead at his Manchester home in September, aged just 46
The life of former world champion boxer Ricky Hatton is set to be remembered at this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards, following his tragic death earlier this year.
British boxing legend Hatton – who was twice nominated for the main SPOTY award and finished third in the public vote in 2007 – was found dead at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester on September 14, leaving the world of sport in shock. He was only 46 years old.
His untimely passing saw tributes pour in from across the world, while thousands of people lined the streets of Manchester to pay their respects ahead of his funeral in October, with Tyson Fury, Liam Gallagher and Wayne and Coleen Rooney among the famous faces who attended the service at the city’s cathedral.
An inquest into Hatton’s death opened days after his funeral, with the hearing taking place at South Manchester Coroners’ Court in Stockport. Senior coroner Alison Mutch gave the provisional cause of death as ‘hanging’ before adjourning the hearing, with a full inquest now set to be held on March 20, 2026.
The hearing also heard details about the days leading up to Hatton’s death, with the court hearing that he had been last seen by family members on September 12.
The court heard that the former boxer – nicknamed ‘The Hitman’ – “appeared well” in what would tragically prove to be his family’s final sighting of him, before “returning home”.
Hatton had been due to attend an event on the Saturday but never showed up, the hearing was told, although no details of that event were revealed to the court.
Before the circumstances of his death were made public, Hatton’s daughter Millie delivered a tribute to her father at his funeral and reportedly asked: “Why did you feel that way? Why didn’t you reach out about how you felt?”
She continued: “I can’t help but think about how you will never walk me down the aisle, how you will never meet my children and your grandchildren, how you won’t be here to see me leave school or even see me grow into an adult. I genuinely hope you don’t ever think you have let me down, because I would never think that. I love and miss you unconditionally.”
Hatton’s body was discovered by his friend and manager Paul Speak, who had gone to the boxing legend’s house in Manchester to take him to the airport ahead of a flight to Dubai.
As rumours swirled about what had happened to Hatton in the days following his death, Speak spoke out and revealed “the truth” about the circumstances around the tragedy in an interview with Boxing News magazine.
“The lights weren’t on, which I thought was strange,” he recalled. “I thought he’d overslept, but it’s not unusual. People do oversleep. So, I went inside – I have a key – shouting, ‘Rick, Rick, wake up!’”.
“I heard music coming from upstairs, so I went upstairs… I took a look at him… I had to take some time to process it. I was in a state of shock and confusion and loss and many more emotions. Then I called the police and the ambulance.
“But I firmly believe he didn’t intend to do it,” he added. “It’s for the coroner to determine, but he had it all to live for.”
Despite his well-documented previous mental health struggles, Hatton’s family and friends – including Speak – maintain that the former boxer was “in a really good place” prior to his death and had been making plans for the future.
“He’d arranged to take his daughters to see Oasis next week,” said Speak. “He was planning to go to Thailand for the WBC convention and a holiday after his fight. He’d just booked a flight to Tenerife for Christmas.
“I want to get the truth out, otherwise people will just speculate,” he continued. “There’s been a lot of rubbish written about Ricky and his parents, but he’d seen his mum just last week; gave her a big hug and some love.
“He was going to see his dad after getting back from Dubai. His daughters had never seen him box, so he was excited for that. So many things for him to live for – he was in a really good place.
“If this was 10 years ago, it wouldn’t have been as big a shock as it was. I’ve been with Ricky to the very highest mountains in boxing to the lowest chasm in life.”
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