Hatton's longtime manager says he firmly believed the former boxing champion didn't intend to take his own life

Ricky Hatton, the former two-time world boxing champion, was found dead at his Hyde, Manchester home earlier this month, his long-time manager said. Paul Speak, a longtime adviser and friend who discovered Hatton, told Boxing News that he found Hatton after letting himself in and hearing music from upstairs. "I firmly believe he didn't intend to do it... he had it all to live for," Speak said, describing the moment of shock, confusion and loss.

Hatton, 46, had been preparing for a comeback and had plans with his daughters, Millie and Fearne, to see Oasis, and for a Christmas break in Tenerife. He was also preparing for a boxing return that would have seen him face Eisa Al Dah, with sources saying he was due to board a flight to Dubai the day after his passing to formalize the contract. In the days before his death, Hatton had posted upbeat content showing him keeping fit in the gym, signaling his intent to return to the sport that made him famous. Hatton had also filmed an uplifting video in the last week aimed at a bullied child, underscoring a public persona that contrasted with his private struggles.

In the days following his death, Hatton’s friends and family described him as being in a good place, though his history of depression and substance use has long been part of his public narrative. He publicly discussed his mental health battles, admitting in a 2017 interview that he had contemplated suicide multiple times after setbacks such as the Floyd Mayweather defeat, which he described as the turning point toward heavier drinking and drug use that worsened his relationship with his parents. He said those struggles fed a cycle of depression and self-medication, although he always remained active in charity and motivational work.

Eddie Hearn, the boxing promoter who knew Hatton well, spoke of him as a rare figure in British boxing. "He was the last of a rare breed of boxers," Hearn said at a press conference. "So many people wanted to say something, but Ricky never spoke ill of anyone; he gave time to everyone, from the CEO to the person cleaning up after an event." Hearn added that Hatton's willingness to help those who were struggling, even while facing his own battles, left a lasting impression on the sport. Hatton’s official cause of death has not yet been determined as investigators await the coroner’s report.