Ricky Hatton’s message about how he wants to be remembered by his fans was delivered just days before his death(Image: Carl Recine, Getty Images)

British boxing legend Ricky Hatton spoke about how he wanted to be remembered just seven days before he was discovered dead at his Hyde home. And the late icon’s reflections on the legacy he hoped to leave behind add another heartbreaking dimension to his tragic story.

Greater Manchester Police has confirmed it is not treating Hatton’s death as suspicious after his body was found by manager Paul Speak on Sunday. The boxing legend was just 46 when he died, with the cause of death yet to be established.

And a recently surfaced interview shows one of Britain’s most cherished fighters discussing his public persona and how he wished to be recalled. His words carry even greater significance given they came just days before news of his death emerged.

“I didn’t want to be the best that we’ve ever had,” Hatton told First Round TV just one week before his death was announced. “But I think I always dreamed of hopefully being up there, mentioned in the same bracket.

“I didn’t want to be No. 1. As long as they can turn around and say, as they do today…Nigel Benn, Joe Calzaghe, Naseem Hamed, Ricky Hatton, Carl Froch, Frank Bruno. And when they mention Ricky Hatton in amongst my heroes, I’ll never ever wake up from that.”

Hatton secured the moniker ‘The People’s Champion’ due to his remarkable humility despite achieving glory in the ring. The former light-welterweight and welterweight world champion never forgot his origins and was especially adored by his Manchester community.

News of Hatton’s death stunned the British public, reflecting the enormous respect he commanded in his homeland. It was this sense of connection that endeared him further to his supporters, even well beyond his final retirement in 2012.

He went on to add: “And I think the way I’d like to be remembered is…I guess I was one of the best we had. I do a lot of sportsman’s dinners with Frank [Bruno], and I feel very proud that they always say, ‘Our Frank and our Ricky.’ It’s like we, not to say we were the best, but we were probably the two most loved.

“I was man of the people, wasn’t I? I was a Jack the Lad, the kid next door, y’know? I couldn’t give two s***s, say it the way it is. And I think the best thing that come out of retirement with me was the love that I had from the fans.

Hatton captured world championships in two weight divisions at the pinnacle of his career(Image: Nicholas Bowman, Sunday Mirror)

“And the love that I have from the fans still. I think people remember me as one hell of a fighter, but yeah, one of the boys.”

Hatton has spoken openly about the personal struggles he encountered after hanging up his gloves. In 2016, he admitted he “tried to kill himself several times” following the end of his boxing career, revealing how drugs and alcohol impacted his life.

The Hitman first became a world champion in June 2005 when he defeated Kostya Tszyu to secure the IBF and The Ring light-welterweight titles. However, his career was marred by knockout losses to Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, which led him to confess he felt he had disappointed his fans with those results.