Ricky Hatton Funeral: Thousands Expected to Pay Tribute on Manchester Streets
The megacity of Manchester is preparing to bid farewell to one of its most cherished sporting numbers, two-weight world champion Ricky Hatton, as his burial procession winds through the thoroughfares on Friday.
Hatton, who captured hearts both inside and outside the ring, was discovered dead at his home in Hyde on September 14, aged 46.
Suckers and musketeers will gather to recognize a man who unified the light-bantamweight division and also claimed a world bantamweight crown.
The cortege will begin at 9.45 am outside the Cheshire rubbish cantina, Hatton’s original resort, before pacing to Manchester Cathedral.
Thousands of sympathizers are anticipated to line the thoroughfares to pay their felicitations and celebrate his larger- than- life personality.
The route has been precisely chosen to mark crucial moments of Hatton’s career. It’ll break at his boxing spa and the AO Arena, where some of his most memorable nights unfolded.
Maybe none more notorious than his stimulating palm over Kostya Tszyu two decades ago, a fight that made him world champion for the first time.
Following a private keepsake at noon, the procession will continue to the Etihad Stadium, home of Hatton’s cherished Manchester City.
News of Hatton’s passing came just hours before the Manchester derby at Eastlands. Players and fans of both City and United paid tribute with a minute’s applause ahead of kick-off.
Tributes poured in from all corners of the sporting world. “The Hitman” was remembered by heavyweight champions Frank Bruno, Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, fellow Brit Amir Khan, as well as legendary fighters Manny Pacquiao and Roberto Duran, who Hatton idolised.
In the ring, Hatton was relentless. His all-action style earned him 45 wins and only three defeats from 48 bouts. Outside it, his approachable, down-to-earth nature won him global admiration.
Tens of thousands of UK fans famously followed him to Las Vegas, singing “there’s only one Ricky Hatton” while cheering him on against Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. His fans even reportedly emptied the bars of Sin City during their support.
Hatton endured his first professional defeat against Mayweather in 2007, followed by a brutal knockout from Pacquiao in 2009, which marked the beginning of his decline in elite boxing.
A comeback attempt in 2012 against Vyacheslav Senchenko revealed struggles in the sport. Yet, Hatton remained married to giving back.
He lifelessly supported internal health charities and Manchester-grounded Barnabus, which aids homeless and vulnerable people.
He also set up a purpose as a coach, helping the coming generation of prizefighters.
In 2022, Hatton participated in a no-scoring exhibition bout against Marco Antonio Barrera. By July, he had announced a professional return to the ring scheduled for December in Dubai.
According to his family, he had resumed training, felt “in a good place,” and was “excited for the future.” Greater Manchester Police confirmed that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.
Ricky Hatton’s legacy stretches beyond his fists. In Manchester, he will be remembered not just as a champion but as a local hero who inspired generations of fans both in and out of the ring.
