Ricky Hatton took his own life, a coroner's court heard
Boxing legend Ricky Hatton's provisional cause of death has been ruled as "hanging" after a post-mortem.
Ricky Hatton died by suicide, a coroner's court hearing has been told.
The legendary boxer died aged 46 at home last month and was found by his manager, and now senior coroner Alison Mutch has revealed the findings of the inquest into his death.
Speaking at Manchester South Coroner's Court on Thursday (16.10.25), she revealed that a post-mortem has been carried out ahead of a full inquest on March 20, 2026.
While the full results have not yet been confirmed, she said a provisional cause of death has been given as "hanging".
The court was told that the former boxing champion - who was nicknamed The Hitman - "appeared well" when family members saw him at a dinner on the Friday night.
However, he did not turn up at an event the following day, and his body was found by his friend and manager Paul Speak.
In an interview Hatton gave before his shock death, spoke movingly about his struggles with mental health.
In the chat with First Round TV, he said: "Thankfully, I didn’t get to the stage where I ended up killing myself. I got to the stage where finally for whatever reason I decided to go and knock on someone’s door and say, ‘Please help me’.”
When asked how he felt now, he replied: “Never better, to be honest with you.”
Ricky continued: “I thank myself every day, you know, for that. I didn’t kill myself because I wouldn’t have seen me granddaughter. I wouldn’t have made up with Billy Graham.
“I wouldn’t have done my documentary, got great feedback from that. I’ve done an exhibition with Marco and Tony Barrera.
“I went on Dancing on Ice. I probably wish I hadn’t to be honest with you. I look at the things I’ve been able to do since, you know, positive things that have inspired others, not just myself, inspired others. And that’s because I went and spoke to someone."
Mr. Speak, who discovered Ricky’s body, had previously said he believed his long-time friend “did not intend to do it”.
He told Boxing News: “The lights weren’t on, which I thought was strange. I thought he’d overslept, but it’s not unusual.
“People do oversleep. I heard music coming from upstairs, so I went upstairs… I took a look at him… I had to take some time to process it.
"I was in a state of shock and confusion and loss and many more emotions. Then I called the police and the ambulance.
"But I firmly believe he didn’t intend to do it. It’s for the coroner to determine, but he had it all to live for.”
