Ricky Hatton bid his final farewell with a grand ring walk around Manchester, his beloved city. The streets echoed with thousands of fans singing ‘there’s only one Ricky Hatton,’ celebrating the life of the late boxing legend. Known as one of the most beloved British sportsmen of all time, Ricky was laid to rest today, drawing huge crowds who gathered to say their own final farewells.
The Ricky Hatton Memorial Route started at his local pub, the Cheshire Cheese, just a short walk from his mansion. The bar opened early at 9am, with the funeral cortege arriving shortly after. Friends and fans alike gathered outside the pub to pay their respects to the fighter they called The Pride of Hyde. The cortege then made its way through the city, stopping at significant locations in Ricky’s life, such as his first gym in the cellar of his parents’ pub and Hatton’s Gym opened by Muhammad Ali in 2009.
At Manchester Cathedral, a sea of sky blue clashed with black attire as mourners entered for the service. A mix of boxing greats, pop stars, and fans gathered to bid farewell to the champion. The final stop on Ricky’s ring walk was at the Manchester City stadium, where a touching rendition of ‘Blue Moon’ accompanied the chant of ‘there’s only one Ricky Hatton’ as the cortege left for the last time. The city of Manchester, united in red and blue, gave Ricky a farewell befitting a champion, honoring his legacy as a man of the people, always true to his roots in Hattersley and Hyde.
