Boxing icon Ricky Hatton was honored today during his funeral service following his unexpected demise last month at just 46 years old. His manager, Paul Speak, was present among those mourning.
Ricky Hatton received a touching tribute today, nearly a month after his tragic death. His manager, Paul Speak, who found him deceased at his home in Greater Manchester, was among the many who came out to pay their respects.
Notable personalities like Wayne Rooney, Liam Gallagher, and Tyson Fury were seen among the attendees at Manchester Cathedral. The sports world was stunned to learn of Hatton’s death on September 14.
Known as a beloved figure nationwide, Hatton’s death has deeply affected his fans. Although an official inquiry into his death hasn’t been conducted yet, Speak, who discovered him, stressed the importance of uncovering the facts, according to the Mirror.
Speak expressed his determination to uncover the truth, stating, “I want the truth to come out, otherwise, people are going to speculate.”
He explained that on the day of the incident, he entered Hatton’s residence to take him to the airport for a flight to Dubai but found the situation unusual. Speak recounted, “The house was dark, which was odd. I thought maybe he overslept. It’s not uncommon. People oversleep all the time.”
“So, I went in—I have a key—and started calling out for him, ‘Rick, Rick, wake up!’ I heard music from upstairs, so I went up… When I saw him… I needed a moment to process everything.”
Speak was overwhelmed by various emotions and promptly called the authorities. He firmly believes, “Ricky didn’t intend for this to happen. It’s up to the coroner to decide, but he had everything to live for.”
He also pointed out that Hatton was in a positive phase of his life, making numerous plans for the future, which was supported by both family and friends, despite Hatton’s past challenges with mental health.
“He had arranged to take his daughters to see Oasis next week. He was planning a trip to Thailand for the WBC convention and a holiday following his fight. He just booked a flight to Tenerife for Christmas. I need to get the truth out, or else people will just speculate,” Speak added.
“There’s been a lot of nonsense said about Ricky and his parents, but he saw his mum just last week; gave her a big hug and showed his love.”
“He was looking forward to seeing his dad after returning from Dubai. His daughters had never seen him box, and he was excited about that. He had so many reasons to live for—he was in a really good place,” Speak concluded.
Previously, Hatton had been open about his struggles with mental health. Speak noted, “If this had happened a decade ago, it wouldn’t have been as shocking.”
“I’ve been with Ricky through the highest peaks and the lowest valleys of life,” he added.
Hi, I’m Benjamin, a member of the Sherburne County Citizen team. With a passion for writing and a deep interest in current affairs, I thoroughly enjoy bringing you the latest news and trends that affect our daily lives.
