Ricky Hatton is thought to have taken his own life, inquest told

Provisional cause of death for former boxing world champion given at opening of inquest in Stockport

Mr Hatton, 46, was found dead in his home on 14 September. News of his death caused an outpouring of grief across the world, and thousands of people lined the streets for his funeral.Picture: John Walton/PA Wire

Ricky Hatton, the former world champion boxer who died in September, is believed to have taken his own life, according to a provisional cause of death given at the opening of his inquest at Stockport coroner’s court.

Mr Hatton, 46, was found dead in his home on 14 September. News of his death caused an outpouring of grief across the world, and thousands of people lined the streets for his funeral.

His body was found in his home in Hyde after police received a call from a concerned neighbour, later revealed to have been his manager, Paul Speak, who, alongside Mr Hatton’s son and brother, was a pallbearer at his funeral.

The former world champion had been open about his struggles with clinical depression and substance abuse, saying on one occasion that he “was coming off the rails” with his drink and drug use, describing himself previously as being “like a runaway train”.

Police coroner’s officer Alison Catlow told the inquest was last seen by family members on Friday, September 12, when he seemed well and there was no cause for concern.

The court heard that the next day, Mr Hatton did not appear at an event that he was scheduled to attend, and on the morning of Sunday, September 14, Mr Speak went to Mr Hatton’s home in order to escort him to Manchester airport to get on a flight to Dubai.

When he didn’t get a response, Speak entered Hatton’s home, where he “found him unresponsive”. Mr Speak called the emergency services, but Hatton was pronounced dead.

The full inquest into Mr Hatton’s death is scheduled to begin at Manchester South Coroner's court on March 20 2026.

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The Guardian