Boxer Ricky Hatton’s manager of more than 20 years, Paul Speak, found the boxing legend after he let himself into his home following concerns, it has emerged
Ricky Hatton’s manager heartbreakingly discovered the body of his close friend at the boxer’s home, it has emerged.
Paul Speak, who also served as Hatton’s “confidant”, is said to “deserve a little bit of love” after making the devastating find on Sunday morning.
He entered the boxing legend’s property in Hyde, Greater Manchester, using his own key after Hatton, 46, failed to appear at a boxing event on Saturday evening.
Hatton became one of Britain’s most popular fighters during his career, which peaked in 2005 when he became world champion in his home city of Manchester. He went on to fight Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, losing both – defeats which plunged him into a deep depression.
Boxing pundit Steve Bunce revealed last night: “He (Speak) 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.
READ MORE: Ricky Hatton’s final pictures with daughters and granddaughter before his death emergeREAD MORE: Ricky Hatton’s manager and ‘his confidant’ found boxing icon dead at home
“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.”
According to to Speak’s LinkedIn, the pair began working together in August 1997, when Speak began his role as Hatton’s agent.
They had worked together ever since and, when Hatton retired from boxing and founded Hatton Promotions, ex-policeman Speak took on the role of operations manager.
Speak has yet to speak out following his best friend’s death, but he was seen laying a flowers tribute outside the boxing legend’s home.
Fans, friends, and family of ‘The Hitman’ are mourning following his tragic death after he failed to show up at the gym and miss a fight he had planned to attend over the weekend. Police have confirmed that his death is not being treated as suspicious.
Hatton had been preparing for a high-profile comeback, with a fight scheduled in Dubai this December. However, he had long been open about his battles with mental health challenges.
In a candid 2022 interview with the BBC, Hatton spoke about “hitting rock bottom” after a devastating second-round knockout by boxing legend Manny Pacquiao – a loss that marked the beginning of the end of his professional career.
“My problems started after I got beat by Manny Pacquiao in two rounds, which basically meant, ‘Ricky, it’s time to retire,'” he said. “I had fallen out with my parents, and I’d fallen out with my trainer, Billy Graham. That’s when things really hit rock bottom.”
Hatton earned admiration from fans across Britain and beyond, but he openly struggled with addiction and mental health for years. In 2010, Ricky checked into The Priory rehab clinic, determined to seek help.
Following his recovery, he transformed his personal struggles into advocacy, becoming a powerful voice for mental health awareness and working to guide young boxers away from the same pitfalls he had faced.
Source: Mirror
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