Ricky Hatton lifted lid on mental health struggles in final interview | Boxing | Sport

In a moving final interview filmed just days before his death, Ricky Hatton opened up about his battle with depression and the pride he took in helping others overcome their struggles. The former boxing world champion, who was found dead at his home earlier this month at the age of 46, had become a mental health advocate despite his own personal battles.

Hatton, a Manchester City fan, had achieved great success in his career, including featuring in one of the biggest fights involving a British fighter when he lost to Floyd Mayweather. However, behind the scenes, he was grappling with depression. In his last interview with Darren Barker, Hatton confessed: “I didn’t want to tell my mates or my family, I didn’t want to worry them so I kept it in.

“I went in the gym or the pub and was the life and soul of the party, even more than normal because I was trying to overcompensate for what was going on inside me.

“Nobody knew and it was very hard. I thought I could sort it out myself but I couldn’t. The best thing I did was when I realised I could beat him or him, I can do this or do that, but this I can’t sort this out myself and I needed to speak to someone and it’s the best thing I did.”

Hatton will be laid to rest in Manchester next Friday.

He added: “You feel you can speak to a stranger better than your family or friends. You don’t go to the lads – and I’ve got good mates – but you don’t feel like that. I had fallen out with my mum and dad and split up with my missus and I didn’t want to worry the rest of the family. So you keep it in and you keep it in and it festers away.”

Hatton continued by revealing that he had received messages from individuals who had used his experience to transform their own circumstances.

“Look at the things I’ve been able to do since,” he said. “Positive things that have inspired others as well as myself because I went to speak to someone.

“That’s my job today. I’m a trainer today and if I can pass on half of what I have from boxing… some of my boxers come up to me and say, ‘I paid the mortgage off today, Rick’… that’s what it’s about.

“If I can go and speak to someone about mental health… when I get letters through the post saying they took on board what I said and I inspired them… it helps other people and it makes me feel good because I’ve helped others.”