Matthew Hatton has revealed what he thought about his brother Ricky’s mental health struggles prior to the legendary boxer’s tragic and shocking death last month
Ricky Hatton’s younger brother Matthew admits he was “always worried” about the boxing icon’s mental health. Matthew, 44, has opened up about his brother’s death for the first time since the tragic news was confirmed last month.
Ricky, 46, was found dead at his home by his manager and long time friend Paul Speak, in Hyde, Greater Manchester, on September 14. The retired British fighter’s passing sent shockwaves through the sporting world and beyond, given his huge popularity and legendary accomplishments in the sport.
Hatton was laid to rest earlier this month and a coroner revealed last week that he was found hanged at his home. Speak had arrived at Hatton’s home to collect and accompany him to Dubai that same day for a press conference to officially announce his comeback fight.
Matthew, also a former boxer, recently sat down with ITV for a first interview since his brother’s death. Matthew admitted he was concerned for Ricky given his past mental battles but said he did not believe Ricky would take his own life.
He explained: “I don’t think we ever did [think he would take his own life]. I’ll be honest, I’ve always worried. I spoke with my partner all the time [about him] and we did worry a lot about Richard, obviously [with him] doing a lot of interviews and stuff like that.
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“I’d listen and I was never really convinced by what he was saying. A lot of the time he was speaking about things that had happened years ago and he didn’t really seem to have a purpose now or a vision for the future. That always worried me.
“But genuinely, this year is undoubtedly the best he’s ever been by a long, long way because he had his problems since he stopped boxing. It really was a shock and we didn’t expect that at all.”
Asked whether Ricky ever reached out to him personally, Matthew said: “Not really. He was always so busy, he was everywhere. I know he was speaking to professionals on a regular basis and that made me a little bit easier about the whole thing.”
Hatton was set to return to the ring for the first time since 2012 to take on Eisa Al Dah on December 2 in Dubai. The Manchester favourite is now expected to be replaced by Kell Brook for the bout, which will now take place on February 13.
Hatton had regularly spoken openly about his battles with his mental health, helping to break the stigma of men not showing vulnerability and bottling up feelings instead of speaking to someone. His family and manager said he was “in a good place” in the weeks leading up to his death.
Matthew added: “In reality I think no [I haven’t processed what’s happened]. At first I was totally shocked and for the first couple of weeks I went to see my mum and dad, I went to see [Hatton’s son] Campbell, I just couldn’t answer my phone or speak to people.
“It felt like a bad dream. Has it hit me yet fully? I don’t know, probably not.”