Ricky Hattons brother speaks out on boxers death | Boxing News

Matthew Hatton, the youthful brother of boxing legend Ricky Hatton, has confessed that he was “always worried” about his older sibling’s mental health. Matthew, 44, has spoken out for the first time since the devastating news of Ricky’s death was confirmed last month.

Ricky, aged 46, was found lifeless at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester, on September 14 by his supervisor and close good friend Paul Speak. The passing of the retired British boxer despatched shockwaves throughout the sporting world and past, due to his immense reputation and legendary standing within the game.

Hatton was laid to relaxation earlier this month, and it was revealed last week by a coroner that he was discovered hanged at his residence. A full inquest is scheduled for March 20, 2026.

Speak had arrived at Hatton’s home on the day of his death to accompany him to Dubai for a press convention saying his comeback combat.

Matthew, also a former boxer, not too long ago sat down with ITV for his first interview since his brother’s tragic passing. He admitted that while he was always involved about Ricky due to his earlier struggles with mental health, he never believed that Ricky would take his own life.

He said: “I don’t think we ever did [think he would take his own life]. I’ll be honest, I’ve always worried. I spoke with my partner all the time [about him] and we did worry a lot about Richard, obviously [with him] doing a lot of interviews and stuff like that.

“I’d pay attention and I used to be never actually satisfied by what he was saying. So much of the time he was talking about issues that had occurred years in the past and he did not actually appear to have a goal now or a imaginative and prescient for the future. That always anxious me.

“But genuinely, this year is undoubtedly the best he’s ever been by a long, long way because he had his problems since he stopped boxing. It really was a shock and we didn’t expect that at all.”

When requested whether or not Ricky ever contacted him instantly, Matthew revealed: “Not really. He was always so busy, he was everywhere. I know he was speaking to professionals on a regular basis and that made me a little bit easier about the whole thing.”

Hatton had been scheduled to make his comeback to the ring for the first time since 2012, dealing with Eisa Al Dah on December 2 in Dubai.

The Manchester legend is now anticipated to be substituted by Kell Brook for the competition, which has been rescheduled for February 13.

Hatton had often mentioned his mental health struggles publicly, working to remove the disgrace surrounding males displaying emotion reasonably than maintaining emotions bottled up.

Matthew continued: “In reality I think no [I haven’t processed what’s happened]. At first I was totally shocked and for the first couple of weeks I went to see my mum and dad, I went to see [Hatton’s son] Campbell, I just couldn’t answer my phone or speak to people.

“It felt like a unhealthy dream. Has it hit me yet totally? I do not know, most likely not.”