Ricky Hatton’s son Campbell paid an emotional tribute to his late father at his funeral in Manchester, saying “I can’t explain how much I’m going to miss you, dad.”
1000’s of mourners lined the streets throughout the procession, which began at Hatton’s native pub – the Cheshire Cheese in Hyde – at 9.45am on Friday forward of a personal memorial service from noon.
Former world champion Hatton was discovered lifeless at his house on September 14. Larger Manchester Police mentioned there have been no suspicious circumstances.
Campbell Hatton, who received 14 of his 16 fights earlier than retiring from boxing final yr, mentioned of Ricky on the service: “We won’t be making any new memories – but the ones we did I will cherish for ever.”
The cortege included stops at Hatton’s boxing health club in addition to the AO Enviornment, the venue the place he secured his first world title with victory over Kosta Tszyu in June 2005.
These in attendance included Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher, Hatton’s fellow boxers Tyson Fury, Frank Bruno and Tony Bellew, ex-England, Manchester United and Everton footballer Wayne Rooney and former England cricket captain Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff.
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Stars from throughout the sporting and leisure worlds arrived at Manchester Cathedral for Hatton’s funeral
‘He was our little champion from the day he was born’
Hatton’s mom, Carol, mentioned in a press release learn on her behalf on the service: “‘The Hitman’ was adored by his army of fans – the People’s Champion, and he would say that’s how he would want to be remembered.
“Lengthy earlier than this accolade he was our little champion from the day he was born.”
Hatton received 45 of his 48 fights and earned legions of followers, not solely because of his boxing means but in addition his down-to-earth manner, with tens of 1000’s of supporters travelling to see him tackle Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.
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Former WBA light-weight champion Anthony Crolla pays tribute to ‘childhood hero’ Hatton.
Mayweather and Pacquiao inflicted two of Hatton’s three defeats, with the third of these coming in his last bout, towards Vyacheslav Senchenko in Manchester in Might 2012.
Hatton – an envoy for psychological well being charities and the Manchester-based Barnbaus, which helps homeless and susceptible folks – turned a coach after retiring earlier than taking part in an exhibition towards Marco Antonio Barrera in 2022.
He was scheduled to return to the ring in an expert bout in December of this yr.
