Ricky Hatton found dead at home by long‑time manager after missing boxing show, friend says

Ricky Hatton, the former world champion known as "The Hitman," was found dead at his home in Hyde on Sunday morning by his long-serving manager Paul Speak after the boxer failed to attend a Saturday-night boxing show, broadcaster Steve Bunce said.

Police said the death is not being treated as suspicious. Friends and colleagues told media outlets that Speak let himself into Hatton’s house and discovered the 46-year-old at about 6:45 a.m. on Sunday.

Bunce, a BBC commentator and close friend of Hatton, described Speak as more than a commercial and business manager, saying the two had shared a 25-year relationship and that Speak had been a confidant throughout Hatton’s career. "Speaky was the one that found him," Bunce said, adding that Speak "deserves a little bit of love" for his role in the boxer’s life.

Former professional boxer and friend Stacey Copeland said she had seen Hatton on Thursday at his gym, where he had just finished training. Copeland told 5Live that Hatton had been due to travel to Dubai on Monday to sign a contract for a fight scheduled in December against UAE fighter Eisa Al Dah. She said he had mentioned an elbow problem and that their exchange had been lighthearted: "We just had a bit of a joke, saying 'you are knocking on now Rick'." Copeland described the news of his death as a "massive understatement" in terms of shock.

Hatton rose to prominence in the late 1990s and 2000s, winning world titles at light-welterweight and welterweight and becoming one of Britain’s best-known fighters. He was widely celebrated for his aggressive style and connection with fans, often referred to in media as the "people's champion."

Local police said they were not treating the death as suspicious and asked for privacy for Hatton’s family and friends while inquiries continued. Media accounts and those close to Hatton provided the early timeline: he was seen at his gym on Thursday, did not attend a scheduled boxing event on Saturday night, and was discovered at his home on Sunday morning by Speak.

Representatives for Hatton and his family had not issued a formal statement at the time of the initial reports. Broadcasters and former opponents paid tribute on Monday, remembering Hatton’s achievements in the ring and his role in British boxing. Further details about the circumstances of his death and funeral arrangements were expected to follow as authorities and the family provided updates.