Tyson Fury arrived at the funeral of old friend Ricky Hatton wearing a suit with images of himself stitched across it.
Hatton’s funeral is taking place in Manchester today following the tragic death of the British boxing legend on 14 September.
Stars from boxing past and present were among the thousands lining the streets as part of a funeral procession that began at Hatton’s old local The Cheshire Cheese pub, concluding at Manchester Cathedral where a private service is taking place.
Fury was among them, pictured wearing a suit that appeared feature artwork of himself.
The images appeared to show Fury sitting on a throne wearing a crown, a nod to some of his iconic ring entrances over the years, and the former world champion marrying his wife Paris.
Early on Friday, Fury shared a heartwarming tribute to his old friend, crediting Hatton with inspiring himself and so many other fighters.
‘Today’s the day of Ricky Hatton’s funeral and I’m not going to be alone when I say this: that Ricky inspired me as a young boy to go on and do great things in boxing,’ Fury said on Instagram.
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‘I wanted to be just like him – the ring walks, the flashy shorts, the fans, the chanting.
‘When I was a little kid he was fighting for his world title in Manchester against Kostya Tszyu and I was there along with a load of other young kids who were inspired.
‘So without Ricky Hatton, Manchester wouldn’t have had, the northwest wouldn’t have had, the UK wouldn’t have had so many world campions inspired by Richard ‘The Hitman Hatton’. Rest in peace Rick.’
Like Hatton, Fury battled depression and addiction at stages in his career, retiring from boxing in 2016.
Two years later, he plotted a return and having ballooned up to 27 stone during his time away from the ring, turning to Hatton to get him back into fighting shape.
Working out of Hatton’s gym in Hyde, ‘They Gypsy King’ shed the weight that set him back on course to become world champion again in 2020.
Boxing stars past and present were also in attendance on Friday, including Tony Bellew, Frazer Clarke, Natasha Jonas, Carl Frampton, Conor and Nigel Benn, Amir Khan and Frank Bruno.
Liam Gallagher, who joined Hatton along with brother Noel for some famous ringwalks in Vegas, was also pictured arriving, along with Paddy McGuinness, Shaun Ryder, Wayne and Coleen Rooney and many more gathering to pay their respects.