Manchester unites at the AO next month for huge '12-round' tribute night for Ricky Hatton

Manchester lost one of its modern icons when Ricky Hatton passed away last year, and next month, on Sunday 7th June, the city is getting together to give him the tribute (and the party) that he deserved - Evening 4 Ricky. 

Where else could this event take place but the iconic AO Arena, home to so many of Hatton’s unforgettable fights? And what else could the night be but fellow Mancunians - from family and friends to music and boxing royalty, comedians and poets - coming together for singing, jokes, and poignant conversation, forming 12 ‘rounds’ of entertainment, all in support of the Ricky Hatton Foundation.

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For your 12 rounds of entertainment, the night will unfold as follows:

Round 1 opens with “Ricky The Man”, celebrating Hatton as a dad, son, brother, mate and fighter, with tributes from family, fans and boxing figures alike, with fans encouraged to rock up dressed as some of Ricky’s most iconic alter egos, from Ricky Fatton to Elvis and the Manchester Mexican.

Round 2 brings live music from John Newman before Round 3 dives into “Ricky The Fighter”, unpacking what made Hatton such a nightmare in the ring through stories from trainers, sparring partners and former opponents.

Round 4 sees Russell Watson take the mic, before Round 5 delivers a special WBC tribute featuring boxing royalty, including Marco Antonio Barrera, Roberto Durán and Campbell Hatton, alongside the unveiling of a brand-new belt in Ricky’s honour.

Round 6 belongs to the iconic Manchester poet Tony Walsh, performing a specially written tribute poem to Hatton’s life and legacy, before Round 7 sees Rowetta bring the music back into the arena.

Then comes Round 8: “Viva Las Vegas!”, reliving the nights Ricky and 30,000 travelling fans famously took over Vegas, complete with Elvis tributes, stories from the road and a few surprises thrown in.

Round 9 welcomes The Lottery Winners before Round 10 turns things up yet again with Tinie Tempah live on stage.

Round 11, “Hi Ho Ricky Hatton”, leans fully into the chaos, with former rival Paulie Malignaggi flying in to relive iconic moments, along with a host of famous boxers/sportspeople/entertainers. Also featuring the England Supporters Band and Joey Blower.

Round 12 closes the show with Bugzy Malone before things spill into an all-star mayoral DJ showdown between Andy Burnham’s Manchester squad and Steve Rotheram’s Liverpool crew. Because of course they do.

Other guests and performers include Paddy McGuiness, Frank Bruno, The Ks, Prince Naz, Jason Manford, Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, Natasha Jonas, Clare Sweeney, DJ Spoony, Steph Houghton, Tony Bellew and Michael Watson.

Proceeds from the event will support The Ricky Hatton Foundation and its partner charities, helping to drive awareness and provide crucial support for mental health initiatives across the UK.

 

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