Ricky Hatton funeral: Mourners line streets as stars arrive to pay tribute

Liam Gallagher, Tyson Fury and Wayne Rooney arrived at Manchester Cathedral on Friday for the funeral of former two-weight world champion Ricky Hatton.

The English boxer, a popular, larger-than-life character who unified the light-welterweight division and also won a world welterweight title, was found dead aged 46 at his home in Hyde on September 14.

A funeral procession started at 9.45am at the Cheshire Cheese pub – Hatton’s local – and was led by the famous Reliant Robin van from Only Fools and Horses. Hatton was a huge fan of the show and once bought one of the original three-wheelers for £4,000.

The cortege includes stops at Hatton’s boxing gym and the AO Arena, where he enjoyed some of his finest moments, the highlight indisputably being a win over the celebrated Kostya Tszyu on a raucous night 20 years ago to capture his first world title.

Thousands of mourners lined the streets to pay tribute to Hatton, with a private memorial service at the city’s cathedral starting at midday.

In attendance was Oasis frontman Gallagher, a long-time friend of Hatton who accompanied him on his ring walk once against Paulie Malignaggi in 2008.

The great and good of British boxing also turned out, with Fury, Tony Bellew and Frank Bruno, as well as former England cricket captain Andrew Flintoff and former Manchester United star Rooney, arriving at the cathedral.

Also among the mourners was Hatton’s former trainer Billy Graham, from whom he was virtually inseparable on his journey from the amateur ranks to the top of the boxing world.

Following the service, the commemorative march will head to the Etihad Stadium, the home of Hatton’s beloved Manchester City.

News of Hatton’s death was announced just hours before the Manchester derby