The city of Manchester is preparing to bid a sombre farewell to one of its most beloved sporting icons. On Friday, October 10, Ricky Hatton’s funeral will be held at Manchester Cathedral, marking a profoundly emotional day for the boxing world, his family, and legions of supporters.
Hatton, aged 46, was found deceased at his home in Hyde on September 14. Authorities confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. Lawyers, friends, fans and public figures alike have since expressed shock and grief as details surrounding the funeral arrangements emerge.
The cathedral service is scheduled to begin at 12 noon, with entry restricted to invitations issued by the family. Ahead of the service, a public procession is planned, tracing a route through Hyde and parts of Greater Manchester.
The cortege will depart from the Cheshire Cheese pub on Stockport Road in Hyde at 9:45 a.m., then pass through notable sites connected to Hatton’s life, including Harehill Tavern, the New Inn, his old gym, Hyde Town Hall, Betta Bodies gym in Denton, and the AO Arena.
Following the memorial service, the procession is expected to move on toward the Etihad Stadium — a nod to Hatton’s lifelong support for Manchester City.
Members of the public are being encouraged to line the streets along the route to pay their respects, though entry to the cathedral itself is by invitation only. Local authorities and the family have worked to coordinate crowd management and security amid expectations of large attendance.
In a statement released earlier, the Hatton family voiced their gratitude amid profound sadness, recalling the late champion as a father, son, grandfather and friend. “Richard was so much more than a world champion,” the statement read. “To us, he was simply ‘Richard’: our son, a loving father, grandfather and brother, and a true friend to many.”
They added that Hatton had lately seemed optimistic about the future: “We are all distraught at the events of recent days … he was excited for the future; his bag was packed ready to go to Dubai … he was planning a celebration in Dubai … he was excited that they would see him fight for the first time in person.”
In recent days, Hatton’s son, Campbell Hatton, shared his own heartbreak and desire for a grand turnout. “Heartbroken isn’t the word,” Campbell wrote, continuing, “Everybody has always said I was your double — never a truer word said … Looked up to you in every aspect of life … Can’t explain how much I’m going to miss the laughs we had …”
He also expressed what he believes his father would have wanted: a funeral marked by mass public homage. “That’s exactly what he would have wanted — he sees his biggest achievement as his fanbase … What he’d want would be the streets to be full of people.”
Hatton’s legacy extends far beyond his boxing record. Over his 15-year professional career, he compiled a winning mark of 45 victories in 48 fights and became known as one of Britain’s most charismatic and accessible champions.
He won the IBF light-welterweight title in Manchester in 2005 by defeating Kostya Tszyu and later contended with Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao on the world stage. He was similarly open about his personal battles with mental health, substance use and post-retirement struggles, earning respect for his candour and advocacy.