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Ricky Hatton's long-time manager and friend, who found the tragic boxer dead at his home, says: 'I firmly believe he didn't intend to do it... he had it all to live for.'

Paul Speak recalled the 'shock and confusion' of discovering Hatton at his £1.7million home, where he let himself in before 'hearing music coming from upstairs'.

Hatton, 46, had arranged to take his daughters Millie and Fearne to see Oasis play, and was planning a Christmas holiday to Tenerife and a boxing comeback.

The news comes as Hatton's family confirmed details for his funeral. A service celebrating his life will take place at Manchester Cathedral at midday on Friday, October 10.

The former world champion had revealed his suicidal thoughts and problems with addiction in the past but his family have said he was in a 'good place' before his death.

Speak told Boxing News magazine: 'The lights weren't on, which I thought was strange. I thought he'd overslept, but it's not unusual. People do oversleep.'

'I was in a state of shock and confusion and loss and many more emotions. Then I called the police and the ambulance.

'But I firmly believe he didn't intend to do it. It's for the coroner to determine, but he had it all to live for.'

Hatton had appeared in good spirits in the days before his death. His final post on Instagram showed him keeping fit in the gym ahead of a highly-anticipated return to the ring in December.

The Mancunian had also filmed an uplifting video in his final week for a child who was the victim of bullying.

He was tragically due to board a flight to Dubai just a day after his passing to sign a contract confirming his comeback to boxing with a bout against Eisa Al Dah.

However alarms were raised after the 46-year-old failed to show at a boxing event for one of his own fighters on Saturday, with Speak finding his lifeless body the following morning.

Hatton's manager said: 'If this was 10 years ago, it wouldn't have been as big a shock as it was.

'I've been with Ricky to the very highest mountains in boxing to the lowest chasm in life.'