Glitzy Hatton debut is world away from dad Ricky’s start
CHATTING on the top deck of a luxury super-yacht in Gibraltar, it was not lost on Campbell Hatton that the circumstances of his professional debut tomorrow are somewhat different to those in which his father started out.
It has been almost 24 years since Ricky Hatton made a postmidnight entrance to the ring at the Kingsway Leisure Centre in Widnes to fight a man coming in off nine straight defeats. They were packing up the chairs by the time his first monetised punch landed on Colin Mcauley.
The similarities with his son’s stationing on a pay- per- view undercard are almost nonexistent, save for the level of opposition picked for the 20-year-old’s opening four-rounder. He faces Spanish lightweight Jesus Ruiz, whose record of 10 defeats from 10 fights is notable only for the fact that nine went the distance.
Ruiz will offer durability and not much else beyond a launchpad to Campbell Hatton’s career, which is commencing to a significant level of attention.
Ricky Hatton noted as much, saying: ‘I certainly didn’t get a debut like this. I was on at half midnight and the only people there were my mum and dad. I can remember the cleaners and caretaker stacking the chairs while I was trying to fight.’
Campbell, who has been in the matchroom bubble on a five-star yacht hotel all week, will carry the pressure of appearing on the undercard of the dillian Whyte rematch with Alexander Povetkin.
He has admitted to nerves and promoter Eddie Hearn has pointed to him being ‘very green — taking pictures of everything’, but training has been thorough.
Hatton Jnr said: ‘For a debut I could not have asked for a better opportunity but I have also really put the work in. I don’t know many people who would have done a 12-week camp for a four-rounder.
‘I am going to take this opportunity. I am a bit nervous because there is a bit of pressure and there will be a lot of eyes on me, but I cannot afford to put in a bad performance.
‘I am feeling the spotlight. It isn’t something I have ever felt before and it is going to take a bit of getting used to. But the boat and everything else is acting like a distraction, so it’s helpful and I am using it to my advantage.’
Hatton’s style has been compared to his father’s front-foot approach, although he stopped short of predicting a knockout.
He said: ‘I don’t feel like I have to make a statement but I do want to make a good first impression. I just want to make sure I don’t get carried away or too eager to please.’