Moving tribute from Ricky Hatton’s heartbroken household on evening he was set to combat
Late boxer Ricky Hatton’s son, nephew and niece will all slug it out in his honour on a fight night he himself was set to headline. He was found dead at home last year
The Hitman(Image: Getty Images)
Boxer Ricky Hatton’s heartbroken family will take to the ring in his honour on an extraordinary fight night he himself was set to headline.
The 46-year-old two-weight world champion was found dead at his home on the morning that he was due to fly out to Dubai ahead of a planned Destiny In The Desert comeback.
Instead Ricky’s son Campbell, nephew Jack and niece Lola will slug it out on the undercard in his memory. Brit former welterweight world champion Kell Brook has stepped in to take Ricky’s place in the UAE showdown against Eisa Al Dah on April 11.
Campbell, 25, who made his professional boxing debut in 2021, officially retired two months before his dad’s death after hiring him as his trainer. The lightweight won 14 of his 16 pro fights – including one on the undercard of the Anthony Joshua versus Oleksandr Usyk world heavyweight match-up in September 2021.
Campbell fought back tears as he told thousands of mourners attending his dad’s Manchester Cathedral funeral: “Never has a father and son had so much in common.
He said he had looked up to his father ‘in every aspect of life’. Campbell added: “All of that was fuelled by the love I had and always will have for him.
“I can’t explain how much I’m going to miss you dad. I can’t believe we’re not going to make any new memories together. But the ones I have I will treasure forever.”
Afterwards he admitted he was baffled by his dad’s death. Campbell said: “He was dead busy with stuff in the gym. He had loads he was looking forward to.
“When he was really in his dark place it would’ve been just as heartbreaking but it wouldn’t have been as much of a shock. It was great to see all the people at the funeral showing their support.
“But I’m glad it’s out of the way now so we can start, as a family, trying to – we’ll never get over it – but start healing.” Campbell said he was ‘looking forward to getting back in the ring in memory of my dad out in Dubai’.
Ricky’s ex-boxer brother Matthew’s children Jack and Lola will also have bouts. Featherweight Jack, 17, who has won two national amateur titles and all eight of his fights, wrote: “Big opportunity for me.
“I will be fighting on the undercard of Kell Brook versus Eisa Aldah in Dubai. It will be a great experience. Ready to show them what I can do on a big night.”
Bantamweight Lola, 14, who has won two of her three previous fights, posted: “Buzzing to say I’m fighting on the Kell Brook undercard over in Dubai, representing team Manchester and the Ricky Hatton foundation.”
Fans welcomed the astonishing tribute. One wrote: “What a way to fuel a legend’s legacy! Good luck to all!”
Another said: “This is awesome!! RIP HITMAN!”
A full inquest into Ricky’s death is due to be held on March 20. An opening hearing in October was told the boxer was found ‘unresponsive’ at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester, by his manager of 25 years Paul Speak who had gone to escort him to Manchester airport to fly to Dubai to promote the planned fight against Al Dah.
When the manager did not get a response he entered the house and found the fighter hanged. Manchester South senior coroner Alison Mutch said: “The provisional cause of death is given as hanging.”
The Daily Star teamed up with Ricky’s local newspaper the Manchester Evening News to raise funds for charities Andy’s Man Club and CALM in his honour. The Ricky Hatton Foundation has been set up in his name to raise £100,000 to support `those facing their own fights with mental illness’ and `ensuring that no one ever has to face those battles alone’.
* In the UK and Ireland Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123 or email [email protected] or [email protected]. In the US you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org.
