Ricky Hattons message about being remembered days | Boxing News

Ricky Hatton spoke about how he wished to be remembered the week before he was discovered useless at his Hyde home. The late boxing champion’s reflections on the legacy he hoped to depart behind add another heartbreaking ingredient to his tragic story.

Greater Manchester Police have confirmed it was not treating Hatton’s death as suspicious following the discovery of his physique by supervisor Paul Speak on Sunday. Hatton was only 46 when he died, though the trigger of death is still to be made public. And now latest interview has emerged, revealing one of Britain’s most cherished boxers discussing his public persona and how he wished to be remembered. His phrases carry even larger significance given they have been spoken just days before news of his death broke.

“I didn’t want to be the best that we’ve ever had,” said ‘The Hitman’ during an look on First Round TV (via Wales Online) earlier in September. “But I think I always dreamed of hopefully being up there, mentioned in the same bracket.

“I did not need to be No. 1. As long as they’ll flip around and say, as they do today…Nigel Benn, Joe Calzaghe, Naseem Hamed, Ricky Hatton, Carl Froch, Frank Bruno. And when they point out Ricky Hatton in amongst my heroes, I’ll never ever wake up from that.”

Hatton gained the moniker ‘The People’s Champion’ due to his remarkable humility despite achieving tremendous success in the ring. The former light-welterweight and welterweight world champion remained faithful to his origins and was especially adored by his Manchester community.

News of Hatton’s death sent ripples across Britain, reflecting the tremendous respect he commanded in his homeland. It was precisely this sense of connection that endeared him further to his supporters, even well beyond his final retirement in 2012.

“And I believe the best way I’d like to be remembered is…I suppose I used to be one of the best we had,” he continued. “I do a lot of sportsman’s dinners with Frank [Bruno], and I really feel very proud that they always say, ‘Our Frank and our Ricky.’ It’s like we, not to say we have been the best, but we have been most likely the 2 most liked.

“I was man of the people, wasn’t I? I was a Jack the Lad, the kid next door, y’know? I couldn’t give two s***s, say it the way it is. And I think the best thing that come out of retirement with me was the love that I had from the fans.

“And the love that I’ve from the followers still. I believe people bear in mind me as one hell of a fighter, but yeah, one of the boys.”

Hatton has spoken brazenly about the personal struggles he encountered after hanging up his gloves. In 2016, he admitted he “tried to kill himself a number of instances” following the end of his boxing career, revealing how substances and drink came to impact his life.

The Hitman first claimed the world champion title in June 2005 when he defeated Kostya Tszyu to secure the IBF and The Ring light-welterweight titles. However, his career was marred by knockout losses to Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, main him to confess he felt he had upset his followers as a consequence.