Ricky Hatton made a heartbreaking comment in his final ever interview just days before his death at the age of 46.
Hatton was found dead at his home in Greater Manchester on September 14 with police stating that there are not "believed to be any suspicious circumstances".
Former two-weight world champion Hatton was found by his long-term manager and friend, Paul Speak, who had gone to check on the boxer after he failed to attend a planned event.
In an emotional interview with Boxing News, Speak said: "I went inside – I have a key – shouting, 'Rick, Rick, wake up!' I heard music coming from upstairs, so I went upstairs… I took a look at him… I had to take some time to process it.
Advert
"I was in a state of shock and confusion and loss and many more emotions. Then I called the police and the ambulance. But I firmly believe he didn't intend to do it. It's for the coroner to determine, but he had it all to live for."
Four days before his death, Hatton recorded what would become his final interview - speaking on First Round TV's 90-minute podcast with Darren Barker.
The full podcast was shared on Sunday "with the blessing of Ricky's family and team".
"We share this with the boxing world – not as an ending, but as a celebration of Ricky's incredible life, his legacy, and his love for the fans who stood by him from day one," First Round TV wrote.
In a poignant moment during the podcast, Hatton - who was preparing for a comeback fight in Dubai in December - opened up on his struggles with depression and addiction during a three-year break from boxing between 2009 and 2012.
"Thankfully, I didn't get to the stage where I ended up killing myself," said Hatton, who won multiple world titles in the light welterweight division and one at welterweight during his illustrious professional career.
"I got to the stage where finally for for whatever reason I decided to go and knock on someone's door and say 'please help me'."
When asked how he felt now, Hatton added: "Never better, to be honest with you."
"I thank myself every day, you know, for that," Hatton continued. "I didn't kill myself because I wouldn't have seen my granddaughter.
"I wouldn't have made up with (his old trainer) Billy Graham. I wouldn't have done my documentary, got great feedback from that."
"I've done an exhibition with Marco and Tony Barrera. I went on Dancing on Ice. I probably wish I hadn't to be honest with you," he joked.
"I look at the things I've been able to do since, you know, positive things that have inspired others, not just myself, inspired others. And that's that's because I went and spoke to someone," Hatton added.
Manchester City footballer Stacey Copeland, a close friend of Hatton, was one of the last people to see him alive after speaking to him at his gym days before his death.
"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 will be put to rest on Friday October 10, with a funeral procession to take place in Manchester.
The procession will visit various locations close to Hatton including the Etihad, home of his beloved Manchester City, with his funeral taking place at midday at Manchester Cathedral.
Topics: Ricky Hatton, Boxing
Rory O'Callaghan