Thousands line streets for Ricky Hatton’s funeral in Manchester

The great and the good of the boxing world were among thousands of mourners who bid an emotional farewell to world champion Ricky Hatton at his funeral earlier.

Hatton, whose passion, personality and skills attracted huge crowds throughout his career, was found dead at his home in Hyde, Manchester, on September 14, aged 46.

The boxer’s son Campbell, who followed his father to the boxing ring, paid tribute at the ceremony. Service at Manchester Cathedral.

“I can’t tell you how much I will miss you, Dad, and we won’t make new memories, but I will forever cherish what we did,” she said.

“Growing up, I looked up to my father in every aspect of life, whether it was how he progressed in his boxing career or how he conducted himself outside of the ring.

“But it was all fueled by the love I have for him and always will have.”

Hatton’s mother, Carol, said in a statement read on his behalf: “‘The Hitman’ was much loved by his army of fans, a champion of the people, and that’s how he said he wanted to be remembered.”

“He was our little champion from the day he was born, long before this award.”

Those in attendance included boxers Frazer Clarke and Natasha Jonas, former boxers Amir Khan, Scott Welch, Frank Bruno, Barry McGuigan and Anthony Crolla, former Manchester City footballer Mike Summerbee, pundit and former footballer Chris Kamara and Hatton’s former coach Billy Graham.

Famous names such as Oasis’ frontman Liam Gallagher, former England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney and his wife Coleen, and boxers Tyson and Tommy Fury also attended the ceremony.

They were joined by Happy Mondays’ Shaun Ryder and Mark “Bez” Berry, reality TV star Calum Best, comedian Paddy McGuinness, former cricket star Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff and actor Dean Gaffney.

Hatton’s funeral cortege was led by the famous Reliant van from Only Fools And Horses.

The former boxing world champion was a huge fan of the sitcom Del Boy and Rodney and once bought one of the original three-wheelers for £4,000, which he drove around his hometown.

En route to the service, the cortege arrived at Hatton’s local restaurant, the Cheshire Cheese pub, on Stockport Road in Hyde, where they were greeted with applause by mourners before departing at 09:45 BST.

The procession then traveled to Harehill Tavern before pigeons were released in the boxer’s honor at The New Inn.

There was another stoppage at Hatton’s Gym, where emotional fans sang and took photos.

Before the service, many well-wishers gathered around the cathedral.

The cortege then proceeded from the cathedral towards the Etihad Stadium, home of Hatton’s beloved Manchester City.

The Stockport-born boxer won world titles in both the lightweight and heavyweight categories.

Kostya Tszyu quickly rose through the amateur and domestic ranks to face elite fighters of his generation, including Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao.