Ricky Hatton's long-serving manager 'found him after letting himself into his house when he didn't turn up for a Saturday night boxing fight'

The long-serving manager of Ricky Hatton found the body of the sporting legend at his home in Hyde on Sunday morning, boxing pundit Steve Bunce has revealed.

BBC commentator Bunce, a close friend of the former world champion, told how Hatton's manager, Paul Speak, went to the 46-year-old's home in Manchester after he failed to attend a boxing show on Saturday night.

Bunce told 5Live: 'He filled me in on a few details about the Friday night and the Saturday night. On the Saturday night, Ricky hadn't gone to a boxing show.

'Speaky had found out Sunday morning. Speaky went round and let himself into the house. In fact it was Paul Speak who found his great friend and the people's champion Ricky Hatton.

'Speaky deserves a little bit of love. You can't even begin to imagine. It's a 25-year relationship they've had as his commercial and business manager, but more than that it's his close friend. It's his confidant.

'I can't think of another relationship like it in sport to be perfectly honest. So Speaky was the one that found him.'

Bunce added that nobody knew Hatton better than Speak, who had been by the boxer's side for much of his illustrious fighting career.

Bunce was speaking on 5Live's special 'Remembering Ricky Hatton' programme alongside former boxer and Man City footballer Stacey Copeland.

Copeland, who was also a close friend of Hatton's, said she saw the former boxer on Thursday at his gym. 

'He'd just finished training,' she said. 'Hatton was due to be in Dubai today, Monday, to sign a contract for a fight he was due to have in December against UAE fighter Eisa Al Dah.

'He was saying he had a problem with his elbow,' Copeland said. 'It was starting to hurt. We just had a bit of a joke, saying 'you are knocking on now Rick'. That was it. To say it was a shock is a massive understatement,' she added.

The Hitman's family, friends and fans are grieving today after he was discovered at 6.45am on Sunday having failed to turn up at the gym and a fight he was expected to watch over the weekend.

His death is not being treated as suspicious, police have said.

Ricky was due for a dramatic return to the sport with a fight planned in Dubai in December - but had often spoke of his struggles with mental health issues, drug addiction and suicidal thoughts.

In an interview with the BBC in 2022, he opened up about 'hitting rock bottom' after a crushing defeat to boxing great Manny Pacquiao, where he was knocked out in the second round at the peak of his own powers.

He said: 'My problems happened when I got beat by Manny Pacquiao in two rounds, which ultimately meant "Ricky, you need to retire now".

'I had fell out with my parents, I'd fell out with my trainer Billy Graham, so that is when it went rock bottom'.

Known as 'The Hitman', he became loved by Brits for his action-packed fights with his signature relentless pressure and attacking style.

But without a doubt, the biggest battles of Ricky's life were his own demons.

He had long struggled with his mental health, as well as drug and alcohol addiction, but in these battles, too, his approach also won him an army of fans.

After being pictured snorting a substance on the front page of the News of the World in 2010, Ricky sought help and admitted himself to a rehab facility, The Priory.

After his fall from grace be became an ambassador for mental health and trying to help other boxers from making the same mistakes that he did.

He said: 'When I got beaten by Mayweather I was devastated. I told everyone I was going to win. I got my best pay day and I am fighting the best pound for pound fighter in the world but I didn't go there just for that though.

'I thought I was going to beat him. When I didn't, after telling all those fans that went over I would, it put my head away.

'After the fight, I couldn't walk down the street I was so embarrassed. I didn't want to show my face. I know that seems a bit strong but that's what was in my mind.

'I thought everyone was looking at me saying he told us he was going to beat Mayweather and he didn't. It's a shame really but it was the start of my mental health struggles.'

He added the defeat made him feel like he had 'let down' the 40,000 fans who travelled to Las Vegas to support him and fuelled feelings of depression, which was later made worse by a falling out with his parents in a row over money in 2013. 

Speaking on an appearance on ITV's Loose Women in 2017, he said: 'After the [Floyd] Mayweather fight I started drinking a lot more heavily and ultimately I fell out with my parents and that was difficult for me and I did not care if I lived or died.

'I contemplated suicide many, many times. I started thinking of different ways to get through it and I thought I could drink myself to death.

'So consequently I got more depressed and I ended up taking drugs to enable me to drink more and it was a vicious circle.'

He said: 'It was my first taste of defeat as a pro after 35 fights. Even though it was Floyd Mayweather, I turned up thinking I was going to beat him.

'I became so used to success and then all of a sudden it was like "I'm not used to this".'

Hatton was undefeated for 43 matches, winning titles at light-welterweight and welterweight in his career before facing Floyd Mayweather in 2007.

Ahead of the fight, he had been struggling with his fitness, veering from 10 to 13st. The Hitman had a new nickname: Fatty Hatton.

An astonishing 35,000 Brits followed him to Vegas for the Mayweather match, David Beckham among them. Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt were among the US contingent. Tom Jones sang the UK national anthem.

The Hitman was floored twice by Mayweather's punches. The second barrage left him unable to rise but bravely begging, 'Get me up,' to his corner.

Hatton lost all self-confidence after that defeat. 'Me head fell off after the Mayweather fight,' he said.

Two years later he had his second career defeat to Mayweather, his penultimate career bout and the one that ultimately led to his retirement. 

Wayne Rooney led tributes to the Manchester boxer this morning as the ex-footballer spoke about carrying his belt into the ring in Las Vegas.

Rooney said: 'To hear that news is just devastating.

'I have been in Ricky's company many times, carried his belt into the ring against Castillo in Las Vegas and it is one the most nervous I think I have been.

'Standing in his dressing room and just thinking "I hope he doesn't lose tonight".

Speaking on The Wayne Rooney show, he said his friend Hatton 'captured the nation'.

He added: 'I think he is just someone everyone loved. He is someone everyone can relate to.

'I think so often nowadays you see any type of celebrity and you see a lot of them are not really relatable and Ricky was certainly relatable.

'It is heartbreaking and I just want to pay condolences to his family and everyone who was really close to him because it is way too soon.'

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, boxing pundit Steve Bunce said Hatton 'changed the face of British boxing'.

'He had 12 close to sellouts at the MEN in Manchester. He made that his home, his citadel.

'He became the kid who was born in a council estate, raised in a pub and ended up taking over 70,000 people to Las Vegas for a series of fights.

'As he admitted, he wasn't the best British boxer in history, but he was without doubt the most popular British boxer in history.'

A huge Manchester City supporter, Hatton was due to be at the Etihad Stadium for this afternoon's derby with Manchester United, and had a table in a corporate hospitality area 

Players and supporters of Manchester City and Manchester United yesterday took part in a minute's applause in tribute to Ricky Hatton.  

In July, Hatton - who would have turned 47 next month - announced his return to boxing, with a fight against the UAE's Eisa Al Dah scheduled for December 2 in Dubai.

Just two days ago, Hatton had shared footage of himself training intensely with a punching bag as he readied himself for his return to boxing. He captioned it: 'Thursday session in the bag. #hitman #bluemoon #getupthereboy.'

Boxers past and present led tributes to Hatton yesterday as they mourned the loss of 'one of Britain's greatest boxers'.

Former world champion Amir Khan wrote: 'Today we lost not only one of Britain's greatest boxers, but a friend, a mentor, a warrior, Ricky Hatton.'

His old rival Pacquiao said he was 'deeply saddened' by Hatton's passing, adding: 'He was not only a great fighter inside the ring but also a brave and kind man in life. We shared unforgettable moments in boxing history and I will always honor the respect and sportsmanship he showed.

'Ricky fought bravely, not just in the ring, but in his journey through life. He truly had a good fight, and we are all blessed to have been part of his wonderful journey.'

Tyson Fury posted two pictures of him and Hatton on Instagram and wrote: 'Can't believe this.

'Rip to the legend @rickyhatton may he RIP. There will only ever be 1 Ricky Hatton. Can't believe this so young.'

Actor Ray Winstone also paid tribute, writing: 'Shocking news, feel like I've been punched in the stomach. I never even had the pleasure of meeting him but I still feel like I know him. A great champion in the ring and of the people. My deepest sympathies to his family. Rest in peace Champ gone far too early.'

Liam Gallagher wrote: 'Absolutely devastated to hear the news about RICKY HATTON it was an absolute honour to know him and carry his belts RIP CHAMP LIVE FOREVER'

Ex-footballer David Beckham shared a message saying: 'Ricky was one of a kind. Just heartbreaking'.

Piers Morgan tweeted: 'RIP Ricky 'The Hitman' Hatton, 46. Found dead at his home in Manchester, police say no suspicious circumstances. What incredibly sad news.'

He had one son, Campbell, who retired from boxing at 24 to become a solar panel installer this July, and two daughters, Millie and Fearne.

He won 45 of his 48 professional bouts during a stellar 15-year career. Among his career highlights were defeating Russia's Kostya Tszyu and Mexico's Jose Luis Castillo.