Manchester stood still on Friday as thousands of fans, sporting legends, and celebrities gathered to bid a poignant farewell to Ricky Hatton, the beloved boxing icon known as the "People's Champion." Hatton, who was found dead at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester, on September 14, 2025, at the age of 46, was remembered for his extraordinary achievements in the ring and his unmatched connection to his community.
The day began with a solemn yet celebratory procession, as Hatton’s cortege set off at 9:45am from Stockport Road in Hyde. The route was lined with mourners, many clad in the sky blue of Manchester City, Hatton’s cherished football club. The procession paused at several landmarks close to the champion’s heart: the Cheshire Cheese pub, Harehill Tavern—where a new mural in his honor was unveiled—The New Inn, where doves were released, and Hatton’s own gym, where blue balloons soared skyward and fans broke into applause. The journey continued past Hyde Town Hall, Betta Bodies Gym, and the AO Arena, before arriving at the grand Manchester Cathedral for the funeral service at noon.
Inside the cathedral, the atmosphere was thick with emotion. Hatton’s sky-blue coffin was carried in to a punky rendition of “Blue Moon,” the anthem of Manchester City, as the crowd outside joined in. The service was punctuated by hymns such as “Abide With Me” and “The Lord Is My Shepherd,” and tributes flowed from every corner of Hatton’s life. His son Campbell, 24, delivered a moving eulogy: “I looked up to my dad in every aspect of life. 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.”
Hatton’s mother, Carol, in words read by Canon Grace Thomas, remembered her son as “our little champ from the day he was born,” recalling his ten-pound birth weight and the black eyes he bore—foreshadowing the battles he’d later wage in the ring. The service also featured tearful tributes from Hatton’s daughters, Millie and Fearne, who reminisced about bowling trips and karaoke nights singing Oasis songs with their dad.
The city’s devotion to Hatton was evident not only in the thousands gathered outside the cathedral but also in the presence of a who’s who of the sporting and entertainment worlds. Notable attendees included boxers Tyson and Tommy Fury, Amir Khan, Frank Bruno, Barry McGuigan, Anthony Crolla, Natasha Jonas, and Scott Welch; football legends Wayne Rooney and Mike Summerbee; musicians Liam Gallagher, Shaun Ryder, and Mark "Bez" Berry; TV personalities Chris Kamara and Calum Best; comedian Paddy McGuinness; cricketer Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff; and actor Dean Gaffney. Many described the day as a celebration of a true working-class hero who never lost his common touch.
Barry McGuigan, reflecting on the turnout, said: “It’s amazing but it’s not surprising to me because he was such a star, such a great human being. I’m up here with my two boys because he demands the respect that a hero in boxing demands. He’s an amazing guy, and he was a phenomenal fighter, just incredible. He brought people together.”
Amir Khan echoed those sentiments, calling Hatton “a fantastic fighter, one of the best out there. He obviously inspired so many fighters like us. He’ll be definitely remembered as one of the greatest to come out of Britain. Very jolly, very fun, a very respected person and very nice. He was always a people’s champion.”
Sky Sports commentator Adam Smith, a close friend, delivered a spine-tingling eulogy: “Richard, Rick, Ricky, more like a Rocky story which led to a rollercoaster of fabulous nights. Taking a down-to-earth lad from Hyde to Vegas and into the boxing Hall Of Fame. With those spine-tingling Blue Moon ringwalks and rip-roaring action, Richard Hatton MBE was both a sporting icon and a working-class hero.” Smith also recalled Hatton’s humor and humility, saying, “Despite loving KFC more than UFC, boy could he fight.”
Chris Kamara, another close friend, admitted he was moved to tears by Smith’s tribute, writing on social media, “Shed a lot of tears today but Adam Smith kicked me off with his lovely tribute.” The emotional atmosphere was heightened by Oasis’ “Live Forever” playing during a tribute slideshow, as Liam Gallagher watched on, later sending a kiss toward Hatton’s coffin.
The cortege itself was a nod to Hatton’s personality, led by the famous yellow Reliant van from Only Fools and Horses—a show he adored—followed by limousines bearing blue and white wreaths spelling “Dad.” The procession finally made its way to the Etihad Stadium, where applause rang out and a banner inside the ground read “The people’s champion.”
Hatton’s legacy in the ring is undeniable. A two-weight world champion, he rose from local amateur to global superstar, facing legends like Kostya Tszyu, Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Manny Pacquiao. His fights drew thousands to Las Vegas and inspired a generation of British boxers. Tyson Fury, in a video tribute, said, “Ricky inspired me as a young boy to go on and do great things in boxing. I wanted to be just like him, the ringwalks, the flashy shorts, the fans, the chanting.” Tony Bellew recalled, “He was the standard, and that's the one thing that stands out to me with the boxing. He worked tremendously hard, and was just one of the best people I've ever got to know and meet.”
Hatton’s impact extended beyond the ring. Jane Couch, Britain’s first licensed female boxer, said, “When nobody else was behind me, and the whole boxing world seemed to hate me, he was behind me. We'll always have that bond, and we'll always be in the Hall of Fame, me and him.” Former promoter Dennis Hobson noted, “He left a legacy and he will be remembered for ever.”
The city of Manchester, from Hyde to the Etihad, came together in grief and gratitude, honoring a man who, in the words of Mayor Andy Burnham, was “a true working-class hero and the whole place is showing its respects today.” As the cathedral bells chimed and Elvis Presley’s “If I Can Dream” played to close the service, it was clear that, for all his global fame, Ricky Hatton never stopped being one of the people.
As the cortege moved on to a private committal, the city paused, united in memory. There’s only ever been one Ricky Hatton—and Manchester made sure he will never be forgotten.
