Ricky Hatton's heartbreaking last interview filmed just days before he died

The Manchester boxing legend spoke about his mental health and his legacy in his final interview

Ricky Hatton said just days before his death that he wanted to be remembered as "one of the boys", his heartbreaking final interview has revealed.

The 46-year-old boxing legend was found dead in his home in Greater Manchester on September 14. Four days earlier, he recorded what would become his final interview.

The 90-minute podcast with Darren Barker was shared on Sunday (September 28) in memory of the former world champion boxer "with the blessing of Ricky’s family and team".

"We share this with the boxing world – not as an ending, but as a celebration of Ricky’s incredible life, his legacy, and his love for the fans who stood by him from day one," First Round TV wrote.

Throughout the podcast, Ricky tells stories about his boxing breakthrough, his failed careers as a carpet fitter and salesman, and his rise from the Hattersley council estate in Hyde to national treasure.

But it was his connection with people - and even being adored as much as Frank Bruno - that he said mattered most.

He said: "I am so proud when people say "our Frank" and "our Ricky". I am not saying we were the best but we were probably the two most loved.

"I was a man of the people, a jack-the-lad, the boy-next-door, who couldn't give two s**** and said it the way it is.

"The best thing that came out of my retirement was the love that I got from the fans. People remember me as a helluva fighter but also as one of the boys."

Ricky also spoke candidly about his depression, The Mirror reports. He told Barker: "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.

"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."

Ricky also described his famous victory over Kostya Tszyu at the Manchester Arena in June 2005 as the moment everything changed for him.

He said: "Whenever I go into Manchester for a beer - which, now I am older, isn't as often as it used to be - I always get a couple of people come up to me and say they were there.

"June just gone was the twenty year anniversary. I don't know where those twenty years went.

"Life changed for me and my kids and my family the moment I beat Kostya Tszyu. But I don't think I changed too much.

"Even today, the gym that I run and the house that I have are all only 10 minutes away from the council estate I grew up on. I haven't moved out of a 10-mile radius.

"Even with all the nice things I achieved through boxing, I still go down my local and play darts on a Monday night and play football for the vets on a Sunday afternoon. My mates now are still the same mates I went to school with, no late newcomers, always the same mates.

"Life changed for me, but I don't think I changed."

Click here to read article