Remembering Ricky Hatton: Manchester’s Boxing Saint Who Never Left His Roots

On a quiet Thursday in Gee Cross, the Cheshire Cheese pub carried on like any other day — pints poured, regulars chatting — just as Ricky Hatton would have wanted. Only a short walk away stood The Heartbreak, Hatton’s home named after Elvis Presley’s Heartbreak Hotel. Outside, tributes piled high: Manchester City shirts, boxing gloves, cans of Guinness, and even Only Fools and Horses memorabilia — a nod to the three-wheeled van he once owned.

For locals like Trev and his wife Sue, Hatton wasn’t just a fighter; he was family.
“He showed me what it takes to be a Mancunian,” Trev recalled. “He should be known as the saint of Manchester.”

A Fighter Who Stayed True to His Roots

Born and raised on a Hattersley council estate, Hatton became a two-weight world champion and one of Manchester’s greatest ever fighters. Yet, despite fame and international stardom, he stayed close to home. His down-to-earth nature made him more than just a boxer — he was a symbol of Hyde, Tameside, and Greater Manchester.

When Hatton passed away at just 46, thousands lined the streets to say their final goodbyes, following his journey from the Cheshire Cheese to Manchester Cathedral. Fans weren’t just mourning a fighter; they were honoring a man who gave his all for the sport and his community.

From Local Pubs to World Titles

Hatton’s journey wasn’t all glitz and glamour. In the early days, he fought in small venues, sometimes selling only a handful of tickets. Promoter Frank Warren remembers Hatton’s first fight in Widnes: “He sold three or four tickets.”

Instead of social media hype, Hatton relied on pubs and word of mouth. His dad, Ray, would drop off tickets with landlords, who sold them in exchange for a free one. Slowly, his reputation grew — and when Hatton kept winning, fans from other fighters began to follow his rise.

Boxing reporter Steve Lillis recalls watching Hatton clinch the ABA title in 1997: “It was like a spaceship taking off into orbit. From that moment on, we knew we were on an incredible journey.”

More Than a Fighter

Hatton’s legacy stretches beyond boxing. He was known for his charity work, his loyalty to Manchester City, and his larger-than-life personality. To his fans, he wasn’t just “The Hitman” in the ring — he was Ricky, the local lad who made it big without ever forgetting where he came from.

And that’s why, long after the final bell, Ricky Hatton will be remembered not only as a champion but as Manchester’s own boxing saint.