Tens of thousands of mourners lined the streets of Manchester on Friday to bid farewell to boxing legend Ricky Hatton, who died last month at the age of 46. The former world champion's funeral cortege wound through the city, stopping at his favourite pub, the Cheshire Cheese, and the Harehill Tavern, where a mural was unveiled. The procession ended at Manchester Cathedral for a service attended by family, friends, and celebrities including Liam Gallagher and Wayne Rooney.
Hatton's coffin was carried into the cathedral by family members and his manager, Paul Speak. During the service, his son Campbell Hatton delivered an emotional tribute, calling his father 'the people's champion' and saying he looked up to him 'in every aspect of life'. Other boxing greats present included Tyson Fury, Tony Bellew, Amir Khan, and Anthony Crolla.
After the cathedral service, the cortege proceeded to Manchester City's Etihad Stadium for a private ceremony. Hatton's coffin was painted light blue in honour of his beloved football club. The procession was led by the famous yellow Reliant Regal van from the comedy show 'Only Fools and Horses', which Hatton had owned.
Friends and fans paid tribute to Hatton's humble and kind nature. Mike Lunney, who followed Hatton to his fights in Las Vegas, said: 'He was the people's champion for a reason. He was the best person you could meet.' Martin Taylor added that Hatton 'resonated with people because of who he was'.
