Inquest Opens into Ricky Hatton's Death

The inquest into the death of former world boxing champion Ricky Hatton opened Friday at South Manchester Coroners Court in Stockport, six months after the 46-year-old was found unresponsive at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester, on September 14, 2025. Hatton, a beloved figure in British sports known as the "Hitman" for his aggressive style and working-class appeal, had held multiple titles in the light-welterweight and welterweight divisions, including the WBA, IBF, and IBO belts. The provisional cause of death, given at a preliminary hearing in October 2025, was hanging, with police confirming no suspicious circumstances.

Paul Speak, Hatton's longtime manager and close friend of over 25 years, discovered the body that Sunday morning. Speak had arrived to drive Hatton to Manchester Airport for a planned flight to Dubai, part of preparations for a potential comeback fight. "The lights weren't on, which I thought was strange," Speak recounted in a statement. "I thought he'd overslept, but it's not unusual. People do oversleep. 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...