Fighting the good fight

By talking openly about their struggles and helping others recognise theirs, the likes of Ricky Hatton have transformed the way men think about mental illness

-  Jim White

Just before kick-off at the Manchester derby on Sunday, there came a moment of rare unity. In the midst of tribal division, 55,000 people, of normally diametrically opposed blue and red persuasion, came together as one to acknowledge the local hero Ricky Hatton.

What was billed as a minute's applause, in recognition of the esteem in which the former boxing world champion is held by his hometown, went on and on. Never mind that he was a lifelong City fan: there were just as many tears shed at his sudden loss in the sections of the Etihad stadium occupied by United supporters. Here was a loud, unanimous public acknowledgement of what Hatton meant to his fellow Mancs.

Here was an outpouring of genuine affection for a local workingclass lad who, through his own determination and skill, had become an internationally renowned sportsman.

But it wasn't just his achievements that so endeared Hatton to so many. It was his character. Funny, self-deprecating, unfailingly kind, he was a model of how not to be tainted by celebrity. This was a man who charmed everyone he encountered. There was, though, something more to him.

Hatton was someone who acknowledged his own issues, and spoke publicly and eloquently about his mental health problems: about how, after realising all his youthful dreams, he had become plagued by depression once his time in the ring was over. The downside had always been there, he told us. But being in the ring had kept it at bay.

He talked about how, when he hung up his gloves, his sense of identity and purpose were diminished; how it was only in the ring that he could really be himself. There he could be "the Hitman". Just before his death, he'd announced he was to make a comeback of sorts in an exhibition fight. This, it was clear to the end, was a man who defined himself by his performance. A man who still needed to box.