Ricky Hatton, 44, was discovered dead at his home in Hyde, England on September 14. The 46-year-old professional athlete fought publicly with clinical depression and addiction. On the morning of March 20, his long-time manager Paul Speak discovered him unresponsive. In light of the discovery, Speak immediately rushed to call emergency services. They were unsuccessful in bringing Hatton back to life, and he was declared dead shortly thereafter.
Hatton had not been seen since September 12. He seemed like he was doing great, and his family didn’t feel they had any care concerns. He had been scheduled to speak at a nonprofit’s gala on the day that he passed away. On top of that, he was about to board a flight to Dubai. His sudden disappearance set off red flags, which would be uncovered in the awful find by Speak.
Known for his vibrant personality and tenacity in the ring, Hatton once described himself as “like a runaway train,” reflecting the tumultuous nature of his life both inside and outside of boxing. His candid conversation about mental health challenges resonated so deeply with his fans. He was deeply committed to raising awareness about the need to confront these realities candidly.
As Hatton’s death has been provisionally ruled a suicide. This heartbreaking fact has sent a wave of mourning and reconsideration through the boxing world and outside of it. Many tributes have surfaced, celebrating his legacy as an athlete, the influence of his journey as a life-long advocate for social justice.
The full inquest into Ricky Hatton’s death is scheduled to begin at the Manchester South Coroner’s Court on March 20, 2026. This long overdue investigation will further explore the details of his death. It will start to look at a root cause that led to this horrible accident.