Ricky Hatton's Son Reveals Boxer Packed Bags Before Tragic Death
Boxing legend Ricky Hatton had already packed his bags in anticipation of a flight he was scheduled to take the day after he took his own life, his son Campbell disclosed today. The revelation came during an emotional inquest at Stockport Coroner's Court, where Campbell Hatton, 24, expressed his belief that his father's decision to end his life was not pre-meditated.
Mr Hatton had made detailed plans to visit his parents upon returning from a trip to Dubai, where he was organising a comeback fight. The former world champion died at his £1.7 million mansion in Hyde, Greater Manchester, on September 14 at the age of 46. His body was found unresponsive by his long-time manager and friend Paul Speak early that morning.
Family's Heartbreaking Testimony
In a statement read to the court, Campbell described his father as a 'happy laid back chap, except when it came to sport and competition.' He portrayed a man who lived life at 110 per cent, both in and out of the ring, but acknowledged that after retiring from boxing, Mr Hatton faced significant mental health battles and issues with alcohol and cocaine.
Campbell noted that while he felt his father was in the 'best place for years,' family members had observed a significant decline in his short-term memory over the previous two years. This cognitive deterioration meant Mr Hatton repeated things constantly and had to write things down or needed reminding about his daily activities, including on the evening before his death.
'He was always generous with people who he loved being around, always extremely well-loved and cherished by all of us,' Campbell added during the hearing, which he attended alongside other family members.
Final Days and Discovery
Earlier in the morning, Mr Hatton's family and friends arrived at court for the hearing, including Campbell, Hatton's father Ray, 75, his brother Matthew, 44, ex-girlfriend Jennifer Dooley, 44, and manager Paul Speak. A previous hearing revealed that Mr Hatton, who lived alone, was last seen alive by family members on September 12, appearing well but failing to attend an expected event the following day.
On the morning of September 14, Mr Speak arrived at the house to take Mr Hatton to Manchester Airport for his flight. He found the boxer unresponsive with a ligature around his neck. In the days following the tragedy, Mr Speak told Boxing News he initially thought his friend had overslept when he could not raise him for the journey.
'The lights weren't on, which I thought was strange. I thought he'd overslept, it's not unusual. People do oversleep,' Mr Speak recounted. 'So, 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. I was in a state of shock and confusion and loss and many more emotions. Then I called the police and the ambulance.'
Plans and Legacy
Mr Speak emphasised that Mr Hatton seemed 'in a really good place' before his death, with plans to take his daughters to see Oasis the following week, travel to Thailand for a boxing convention, and visit Tenerife for Christmas. His primary focus, however, was the Dubai trip, where he was due to sign a contract for a comeback fight in December against Abu Dhabi's Eisa Al Dah.
Following Mr Hatton's death, Campbell told ITV's Good Morning Britain that the family was struggling to comprehend the loss. 'It has been very up and down, really, but just as a family, we're trying to take each day at a time, really,' he said.
Nicknamed 'the Hitman,' Hatton was an aggressive and brave fighter who held multiple world and UK titles between 1997 and 2012. He was renowned for his 2005 victory over Kostya Tszyu in his hometown, which made him a boxing legend overnight and won him a loyal fanbase. Stars such as Liam Gallagher, Wayne Rooney, and Tyson Fury attended a private memorial service at Manchester Cathedral in October.
Reflecting on the outpouring of love at his father's funeral, Campbell added: 'He always said he was more proud of his fanbase than all the belts and his titles. Surprised is probably the wrong word because it was obvious how much he was loved by the amount of people that followed him all over the world to watch him box. To actually see everyone in the streets, it was a very long route that we went down, and there was never a point where the streets weren't full. To actually see it in terms of the amount of people, it was surreal really.'
Mental Health Struggles
Mr Hatton, awarded an MBE for services to sport in 2007, had spoken openly about his mental health struggles, including suicidal thoughts and addiction issues. However, friends believed he was in a better place shortly before his death, with his final Instagram post showing him keeping fit in the gym ahead of his anticipated return to the ring. He also filmed an uplifting video in his final week for a child who was a victim of bullying.
Mr Speak reflected: 'If this was 10 years ago, it wouldn't have been as big a shock as it was. I've been with Ricky to the very highest mountains in boxing to the lowest chasm in life.' The inquest continues to shed light on the tragic circumstances surrounding the boxing icon's untimely death.
