Ricky Hatton 'Found Dead by Manager and Friend After Letting Himself Into House'

Ricky Hatton was found dead at his home by his manager and friend after the former fighter unexpectedly failed to attend a boxing event.

British boxing icon Hatton was found dead at his home in Greater Manchester on Sunday at the age of 46.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: "Officers were called by a member of the public to attend Bowlacre Road, Hyde, Tameside, at 6:45am today where they found the body of a 46-year-old man.

"There are not currently believed to be any suspicious circumstances."

It has now emerged that Hatton was discovered by his long-term manager and friend, Paul Speak.

Boxing pundit Steve Bunce told the BBC that Speak went to Hatton's home after he failed to attend a show on Saturday night.

Ricky Hatton was found dead by his manager (Image: Getty)

Speaking on 5Live's special 'Remembering Ricky Hatton' programme, Bunce said: "On the Saturday night, Ricky hadn't gone to a boxing show.

"Speaky had found out Sunday morning. Speaky went round and let himself into the house.

"In fact it was Paul Speak who found his great friend and the people's champion Ricky Hatton.

"Speaky deserves a little bit of love. You can't even begin to imagine.

"It's a 25-year relationship they've had as his commercial and business manager, but more than that it's his close friend. It's his confidant.

"I can't think of another relationship like it in sport to be perfectly honest. So Speaky was the one that found him."

Former two-weight world champion Hatton last fought professionally in 2012 and was preparing to make a surprise return to the ring to fight UAE boxer Eisa Al Dah in a middleweight bout in Dubai on December 2.

Hatton had previously spoken about his battles with depression and addiction, and in 2023 he was the subject of a documentary 'Hatton' in which he discussed his life and dealing with retirement.

Hatton was a two-weight world champion (Image: Getty)

Manchester City footballer Stacey Copeland, a close friend of Hatton, said she last saw the boxing legend on Thursday at his gym.

"He'd just finished training," she told the BBC. "Hatton was due to be in Dubai today, Monday, to sign a contract for a fight he was due to have in December against UAE fighter Eisa Al Dah.

"He was saying he had a problem with his elbow," Copeland added. "It was starting to hurt. We just had a bit of a joke, saying 'you are knocking on now Rick'. That was it.

"To say it was a shock is a massive understatement."

Hatton's family issued an emotional statement on Monday paying tribute to a "beloved son" who had "a heart as big as his smile".

He was described in the statement as "true friend to many" who "never forgot where he came from".

Hatton earned notable world title wins over Kostya Tszyu and Jose Luis Castillo during his illustrious professional career.

He would go on to face Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas, with thousands of British fans travelling to the United States to watch the title fights - which both ended in defeat for the Mancunian fighter.