Ricky Hatton’s sudden death has hit fans hard, but nobody harder than his long-time manager and mate Paul Speak. Nearly three decades together — belts, Vegas lights, drinking stories, comebacks, collapses — and Speak’s the one who walked into that house and found him.
The Day Everything Went Quiet
Speak was meant to drive Ricky to the airport for a flight to Dubai. Instead, he stepped into silence.
“The lights weren’t on, which I thought was strange. I thought he’d overslept, but it’s not unusual. People do oversleep,” Speak told Boxing News Online.
“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 it.”
Then came the moment nobody should face.
“I was in a state of shock and confusion and loss and many more emotions. Then I called the police and the ambulance.”
“Ricky Had Plans, Not an Exit”
Speak’s clear on one thing — this wasn’t a man looking to check out.
“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.”
Ricky had plans stacked up.
“He’d arranged to take his daughters to see Oasis next week. He was planning to go to Thailand for the WBC convention and a holiday after his fight. He’d just booked a flight to Tenerife for Christmas.
His daughters had never seen him box, so he was excited for that. So many things for him to live for – he was in a really good place.”
This wasn’t the broken Ricky from a decade back. This was a man trying to live again.
Clearing the Rubbish and Setting the Record Straight
Paul’s had enough of the gossip.
“I want to get the truth out, otherwise people will just speculate. There’s been a lot of rubbish written about Ricky and his parents, but he’d seen his mum just last week; gave her a big hug and some love. He was going to see his dad after getting back from Dubai.”
And he’s seen the darkest days before.
“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.”
Ricky Hatton — One of Ours, Always
Ricky was Manchester’s pub lad who punched his way to the top. He gave us Kostya Tszyu, those wild Vegas nights against Mayweather and Pacquiao, and an army of fans singing “Blue Moon” louder than any arena’s ever heard. And he showed us the crash that follows fame: depression, loneliness, addiction. He didn’t hide it. He spoke it.
That’s why fans loved him — he was real. Flawed. Tough. One of our own, and he always will be. Ricky Hatton wasn’t perfect — and that’s exactly why he meant so much. He was ours. A fighter who could knock a man cold on Saturday night and still end up in the boozer Sunday morning laughing with the lads.
So when the glasses go up and the songs start, send him off the only way that fits:
“THERE’S ONLY ONE RICKY HATTON… ONE RICKY HATTON… WALKING ALONG, SINGING A SONG, WALKING IN A HATTON WONDERLAND.”
Ricky Hatton’s Career Highlights
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IBF light welterweight champion (2005–2006) — famously stopped Kostya Tszyu in Manchester.
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WBA light welterweight champion (2006–2009) — defended his crown in front of massive UK crowds.
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WBA welterweight champion (2006) — edged Luis Collazo.
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Shared the ring with legends — Floyd Mayweather Jr. (2007) and Manny Pacquiao (2009).
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Beloved by fans — thousands followed him to Las Vegas; no one brought noise like Hatton’s faithful.
Last Updated on 09/25/2025
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