Ricky Hatton’s ‘heartbroken’ son Campbell responds to touching tribute at Oasis gig

Campbell Hatton, the son of the late Ricky Hatton, has thanked fans for their messages of support and says recent tributes from both Manchester City and Oasis ‘meant the world’ to the family.

Hatton, one of the most beloved fighters in British boxing history, was found dead at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester last month, aged just 46.

The tragic news shook boxing to its core, with countless fans and high-profile sporting figures flooding social media with personal tributes to the former world champion, nicknamed ‘The Hitman’, in the intervening weeks.

At the peak of his powers, Hatton was feared across the globe, gaining a reputation for his ferocious body punching which he perfected under long-time coach Billy Graham.

But Hatton’s personality was perhaps what cemented his place in heart of so many, with around 30,000 spectators making the trip to Las Vegas to watch their hero lock horns with Floyd Mayweather Jr. back in 2007.

The outpouring of love has highlighted just what Hatton meant to the British boxing fraternity – and beyond – and Manchester City paid their respects with a minute’s silence before their win over local rivals Manchester United.

A giant banner emblazoned with the words, ‘The People’s Champion’, was proudly held aloft by City fans during the 3-0 victory, with Hatton’s son, Campbell, brought to tears at the Etihad.

Liam and Noel Gallagher – who carried out Hatton’s belts for his showdown with Paulie Malignaggi in Vegas – showed their class with a tribute for their fellow Mancunian while playing ‘Live Forever’ at Oasis’ sold-out Wembley show on Saturday night.

‘The support has been incredible. My dad and myself – I had no choice in the matter! – but we were die-hard Blues from day one,’ Campbell, a former professional boxer himself, told ITV News.

‘To go to Manchester City on the weekend and seeing the girls with the City tops and being mascots, they just went above and beyond for us.

‘The banner, the flag, they had up as a tribute for my dad means the world to us as a family so we can’t thank them enough.

‘We’re also die-hard Oasis fans, all of us, and Noel and Liam doing a tribute with Live Forever… again, I couldn’t ask for any more and the support we’ve had from everyone has been unbelievable.’

According to Campbell, the family had ‘so many big plans coming up’ and they have been left ‘absolutely heartbroken’ by their sudden loss.

‘We’re absolutely heartbroken as you can imagine,’ he added.

‘It was so unexpected and there were so many big plans coming up so it’s knocked us all for six.

‘We’re just trying to be there for each other at the minute and obviously the outpouring of support from everyone has been absolutely amazing so that’s helping us through a lot.

‘But yeah, we’re absolutely heartbroken.’

Campbell, a spitting image of his dad, said he and the former light-welterweight were ‘the best of friends’ and ‘identical in so many ways’.

He continued: ‘He used to call me a little Mini-Me. We were identical in so many ways and it think it shone through, how close we were and the banter we had with each other.

‘To so many, he was Ricky Hatton the boxer but to me he was just my dad and to the family it’s Richard so we just can’t get our heads around things at the minute.

‘It’s absolutely awful and it’s hard to even explain.’

Social media has been awash with clips of Hatton in happier times, which has provided some comfort to Campbell and the rest of the family in their grief.

‘I’m so proud of him, especially at the minute with social media and you’re seeing all the clips from years ago and old memories that people have that we haven’t seen for years,’ he went on.

‘As much as it is heartbreaking, it brings a smile to our faces as well, especially with my dad being the character he was, even things in the build-up and you see his sense of humour shining through.

‘That gives us a lot of comfort. As much as it is hard going on social media and it constantly being there, there is a lot of comfort to take from it as well.’

It was confirmed this week that Hatton’s funeral will be held on October 10 at Manchester Cathedral, with a procession set to pass pubs, gyms and various other venues frequented by the boxer.

‘It’s exactly what he would have wanted,’ Campbell said of the procession, which will wind up at the Etihad Stadium.

‘He said the biggest achievement in boxing was his fanbase and that’s what he was most proud of so what he’d want would be the streets filled with people celebrating his life and showing respect.

‘That’s what we would like to see, everyone going there and doing their bit and having their part in the day because everything he did he did for his fans.’