British boxing legend Ricky 'The Hitman' Hatton’s mother has revealed a sad detail prior to his death last year.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed this body had been found at his home in Gee Cross, Hyde, on 14 September, with it later being ruled a suicide.
Hatton was a professional fighter from 1997 to 2012, coming up against some of the best boxers in the world.
Just two months after his death in December, Hatton was set to fight Eisa Al Dah in a middleweight contest in Dubai and revealed in an interview that he was looking forward to it.
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He was even posting to his social media accounts to show off his preparation – including one of his final Instagram posts, where he was on a treadmill.
According to the boxer’s mum, Carol, the last time she saw him was heartbreaking.
She explained to the court how they had chatted about him returning to the ring and were planning to visit after a trip to Dubai.
She revealed that her son’s ‘eyes were sad’ and that the ‘last hug he gave me almost broke my ribs’.
Sadly, he would be found two days later by his manager, Paul Speak.
It isn’t always obvious what a person is going through behind closed doors.
While it was determined that he had taken his own life in his games room, Senior South Manchester Coroner Alison Mutch said during the inquest, per The Sun, that she could not be satisfied that he intended to take his own life due to the fact he was ‘under the influence of alcohol’, and had made ‘significant future plans’.
There was also evidence of Hatton suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) – a neurodegenerative disorder that has been seen in sports players who take blows to the head.
Sadly, CTE has also been linked to suicides, according to a 2021 study, due to its symptoms which can cause mood swings, aggression, depression and cognitive decline.
Hatton’s legacy lives on, with 45 wins out of 48 professional fights under his belt, and 32 knockouts too.
Tributes for the 46-year-old from fans on social media, and other professionals, showed just how much he impacted the industry.
Tyson Fury was among those to share their condolences, with him writing on a post on Instagram: "Rip to the legend @rickyhatton may he rip. There will only ever be 1 Ricky hatton. can't believe this so young."
Amir Khan also shared a message on X, where he called Hatton 'one of Britain’s greatest boxers, a friend, a mentor and a warrior'.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677
Britt Jones