Ricky Hatton's manager 'wants to get the truth out' after finding boxer dead

Ricky Hatton's manager, Paul Speak, has spoken of his "shock and confusion" after discovering the lifeless body of the former world champion at his Greater Manchester home earlier this month. Speak, who had worked with Hatton for nearly three decades, was due to take him to the airport for a flight to Dubai when he made the tragic discovery.

Speaking to Boxing News magazine, he recalled: "The lights weren't on, which I thought was strange. I thought he'd overslept, but it's not unusual. People do oversleep. So, I went inside - I have a key - shouting, 'Rick, Rick, wake up!' 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."

Speak insisted that Hatton was "in a really good place" before his death at the age of 46 and had been making a lot of plans.

He added: "He'd arranged to take his daughters to see Oasis next week. He was planning to go to Thailand for the WBC convention and a holiday after his fight. He'd just booked a flight to Tenerife for Christmas.

"I want to get the truth out, otherwise people will just speculate.

"There's been a lot of rubbish written about Ricky and his parents, but he'd seen his mum just last week; gave her a big hug and some love.

"He was going to see his dad after getting back from Dubai.

"His daughters had never seen him box, so he was excited for that. So many things for him to live for - he was in a really good place."

Ricky had previously spoken candidly about his mental health battles and Paul confessed his mate's death wouldn't have been "as big a shock" if it had occurred a decade earlier.

He explained: "If this was 10 years ago, it wouldn't have been as big a shock as it was.

"I've been with Ricky to the very highest mountains in boxing to the lowest chasm in life."