Ricky Hattons body found by manager as friends | Boxing News

Ricky Hatton’s long-time manager found the body of his expensive pal at the boxer’s residence in Hyde on Sunday morning, boxing commentator Steve Bunce has disclosed. Bunce, a close affiliate of Hatton, revealed he conversed with Hatton’s manager, Paul Speak, on Monday night. He told the BBC: “He filled me in on a few details about the Friday night and the Saturday night.

“On the Saturday night time, Ricky hadn’t gone to a boxing show. Speaky had found out Sunday morning. Speaky went spherical and let himself into the home. In fact it was Paul Speak who found his great pal and the people’s champion Ricky Hatton. Speaky deserves a little bit of love. You cannot even start to think about.

“It’s a 25-year relationship they’ve had as his commercial and business manager, but more than that it’s his close friend. It’s his confidant. I can’t think of another relationship like it in sport to be perfectly honest. So Speaky was the one that found him.”

He said no one understood Hatton better than Speak. Bunce and former boxer and Manchester City footballer Stacey Copeland, also a close companion of Hatton, appeared on BBC Five Live for a particular ‘Remembering Ricky Hatton’ programme which broadcast on Monday night.

Copeland said Hatton ‘dared to dream’ and recounted how she last encountered Hatton on Thursday at his gymnasium. She said: “‘He’d just finished training.’ Hatton was set to be in Dubai today, Monday, to sign a contract for a December bout against UAE fighter Eisa Al Dah.

“He was saying he had a drawback with his elbow. It was beginning to harm. We just had a bit of a chortle, saying ‘you might be knocking on now Rick’. That was it. To say it was a shock is a large understatement.”

Greater Manchester Police announced on Sunday that 46-year-old Hatton had been found dead at his home with no suspicious circumstances. Tributes to Hatton, a former world welterweight champion, have been pouring in from across the sporting world and beyond.

On Monday, his family released a statement through Greater Manchester Police. “Richard was so a lot more than a world champion,” they expressed. “To us he was merely ‘Richard’, our son. A loving father, grandfather, and brother, and a true pal to many.

“He had a heart as big as his smile, and his kindness, humour and loyalty touched everyone who was lucky enough to know him.”

“To the wider world, Richard will always be remembered as one of boxing’s greatest champions – a man who gave everything inside the ring and wore his heart on his sleeve outside of it.”

Hatton’s crowning achievement was arguably his victory over Kostya Tszyu to win the IBF welterweight title at Manchester Arena in June 2005.

Hatton, identified for his battles with boxing greats like Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao, gained the hearts of followers worldwide with his humble nature. He has also been candid about his struggles with mental health following his retirement from the game.