Ricky Hatton’s funeral procession route will give thousands of fans the chance to pay their respects to the boxing icon in hometown Manchester.
The former world champion and British boxing icon was found dead at his home in Hyde at the age of 46 on September 14.
And it was announced by his family that a funeral service will be held in Manchester Cathedral on Friday at 12pm to commemorate the life of the legend.
The service will be invitation only, but fans from across the globe and in the UK will have their chance to pay their respects to ‘The Hitman’ during a planned procession.
What is the procession route for Ricky Hatton’s funeral?
The funeral procession will begin at 9:45am, spanning two hours before the full service for family and friends.
It will begin at the Cheshire Cheese in Hyde, where fans can gather in Hyde before proceeding across Manchester.
There will be pauses at several venues along the route for fans to pay tribute to the boxing great, across an 18-mile route in total.
This includes Hatton’s gym, the legend’s regular workout spot, Hyde Town Hall and the AO Arena.
For Hatton’s followers, the huge venue was a site for many famous nights in the Mancunian’s career.
His most famous nights came within the arena, including his historic victory over Kosta Tszyu to become IBF super-lightweight champion in 2005.
The service will then take place at 12pm before everyone will finish the procession at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, home of Hatton’s beloved football club.
Fans will likely lay flowers and pay tribute to Hatton outside of the stadium, where so many heart-warming tributes have already taken place during the Blues’ fixtures.
Ricky Hatton’s funeral
Fans will likely flock in their thousands and line the streets to pay their respects to the former world champion.
A whole host of boxing names will likely also attend the proceedings and the service to pay their respects.
talkSPORT’s Spencer Oliver and Adam Smith will be two of many who will pay their respects.
What have Ricky Hatton’s family said about proceedings?
Hatton’s family have already released a statement to commemorate the legend in the immediate aftermath of the sad passing.
It read: “We are all distraught at the events of recent days. To all our knowledge, despite his well-documented struggles, Richard was in a good place.”
They added: “The outpouring of grief and love from the nation and worldwide shows how much Richard was loved.
“It will, in time, be something that gives us all some comfort and pride. For now, however, we would like to have a period of private and personal mourning.
“The priority for us all is to ensure the wellbeing and support of Richard’s children and Granddaughter.”
Why was Ricky Hatton so popular?
Hatton emerged to prominence in the squared circle to become one of the most popular figures in British boxing history.
After turning over as a pro in 1997, it was clear that ‘The Hitman’ had supreme talent for the ring.
While flying through the British ranks, Hatton developed a cult fanbase, the ‘Hatton Army’, who followed him around the globe.
His rise culminated in world titles in 2005 when he defeated Tszyu in the most famous night of his career.
Hatton’s incredible years came as he fought some of the sport’s best and took over the fight capital Las Vegas.
He bravely fought Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, the two most high-profile bouts of his career, but ended in defeat.
After retiring with defeat in 2012, his legacy was stamped and he remained a pivotal figure in the sport.
He trained several fighters including his son Campbell, and even fought in an exhibition against Marco Antonio Barrera in a Manchester homecoming in 2022.