Table of Contents
- Brad Rea's Tribute to Ricky Hatton
- Ricky Hatton's Legacy
- The Bond Between Rea and Hatton
- Memorable Moments Together
- Rea's Return to Hatton's Gym
- Upcoming Fight Against Arthur
BOXER Brad Rea has delivered a heartfelt tribute to the late Ricky Hatton and has pledged to continue fighting to honor his mentor.
Hatton – Britain's most cherished fighter – leaves behind a legendary legacy.
Ricky Hatton with a young Brad Rea
The two became close friends in later years
Hatton mentored Manchester’s Rea
Manchester light-heavyweight Rea developed a strong bond with Hatton, who became a close friend and mentor until his unfortunate passing.
Today, on Friday, October 10, 2025, Hatton is laid to rest.
Rea, who is set to fight Lyndon Arthur on November 1, attended the service and shared insights about his special relationship with the legendary Hitman.
He told SunSport: “I was fortunate to have a great relationship with him, and we were friends.
“But I think many people, even those who may have met him just once or taken a picture with him, feel a personal connection with him because of the way he was.
“He was down to earth and truly one of us, regardless of how famous he became.
“That’s why it has impacted so many, and everyone feels like they knew him in some way because of his humility.
“This has been hard for me to accept. It has been difficult for the entire boxing community.”
Despite their close relationship, Rea admits the novelty of having Hatton in his life never faded.
He reflected: “It all just blended together. I spent so much time with him, seeing him almost daily in the gym.
“You sometimes forget how significant he was, how loved he was, and how many lives he touched.
“Then occasionally, while sparring or walking down the street, you’d realize, ‘That’s Ricky.’ You know what I mean?
“It’s not just Rick; this is the Hitman, and I’d have to pinch myself and think, ‘I’m sitting in Nando’s with Ricky Hatton.’ It was surreal.”
Despite Hatton’s immense fame, he never wanted to be seen as anything other than a regular person.
Rea stated: “He was just one of the guys at the end of the day.
“He was so humble, which is why he never thought he was superior to anyone else.”
Hatton became part of Rea’s corner team
The two celebrate a victory
“He never considered himself a superstar, which I believe is connected to his humility and how surprised he was by all the support he received.”
The two-weight world champion Hatton would spend 12 intense weeks preparing for his fights and then enjoy the rest of his time socializing with friends.
Rea was fortunate to share social experiences with the boxing legend, though he prefers to keep some of their more chaotic stories to himself.
He laughed, saying: “There are so many stories, and they all make me smile because they were just silly times filled with ridiculous jokes.
“I’m grateful that I got to see multiple sides of him. He was my coach, part of my corner team, and a friend.
“We went to football games together, had drinks, and even traveled to Dublin for weekends. I have many memories to cherish, some stories I can share, and some I’ll probably keep to myself!”
Hatton and Re 
