Campbell throws his Hat into the ring for first time
YOUNGSTER FOLLOWING IN DAD RICKY’S GLOVES
THE name Hatton returns to the professional ring on Saturday.
It is nine years since Ricky hung up his gloves, defeat in his comeback fight to Vyacheslav Senchenko bringing an end to a career which saw him become a two-weight world champion, British boxing legend and a Manchester icon.
Now the baton has been passed to his son, Campbell, who takes his bow in the pro ring for the first time at superfeatherweight on the undercard of Dillian White’s rematch with Alexander Povetkin in Gilbraltar.
He has the blessing of his dad, and is being trained by his uncle – former world-title challenger and European champion Matthew.
With the name comes the pressure. Campbell’s likeness both out of the ring and inside in terms of his style brings back memories of those sell-out nights at the Manchester Arena and of 20,000 Mancs following Ricky over the Las Vegas for mega fights with Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
But rather than fear it, the 19-year-old – who is the Hurricane rather than the Hitman – is embracing it.
“The knowledge they’ve got (Ricky and Matthew), between them is second to none when it comes to boxing,” he told M.E.N. Sport.
“So just to have them on my doorstep whereas other boxers would kill to have that advice on-hand, it has been really good and I feel in a really good position.
“I’m really excited to get going with my professional career. I’ve got a professional style, even through the while in the amateurs everyone has always said I’d make a good professional, so it’s always been a case of turning pro sooner rather than later. If it had been down to me I’d have just tried turning pro as soon as I could on my birthday, but my dad and Matt were making sure it’s the right time, so I just listened to them and now we’re ready to go.
“In the short term I just want to be as busy as possible really. We’re taking things fight by fight – the plan is for the next couple of years just to be as busy and active as I can and get as many fights in as possible really.”
Hatton arrived on the Rock yesterday and underwent a Covid test as he entered the Matchroom bubble. He is still waiting to hear who he will be fighting on Saturday.
His debut was due to be on March 6, but was put back when the bill was moved to Gibraltar.
“I was really on form in the gym, so at first I was a bit disappointed just because of the excitement of it really because we were nearly there, but it’s not had a big effect on any of the training,” he said.
“It didn’t have much of an effect really, because the way we have been looking at things and because we’re at the start of my career, we just want to be really busy.
“We’re not really preparing just for this fight it’s pretty much just like a constant training camp for the next couple of years, so we’re just carrying on as we are.
“I am still feeling really good and looking really good in the gym, so it probably works out even better having that extra few weeks to prepare.
“Normally I will do my boxing training in the afternoon, then after training I’ll have either have done some pads or bag work, or circuits, maybe some sparring depending on what day it is. After that then I’ll have a few hours rest and then in the evening do my cardio, so I like to do either long distance or sprints, or a swim I like to do as well so that’s training as far as Monday to Friday, then Saturday mornings I’ll do my strength and conditioning, and then collapse on Sundays and don’t move!”
Campbell is already a dad himself, having welcomed daughter Lyla into the world aged 17. Having time to raise a child while preparing for a career in boxing – a sport notorious for work ethic, tenacity and time – is a task any parent would have to adapt to.
“It was a really big shock at first, obviously being so young finding out I’m going to be a dad,” said Campbell.
“But I’ve got a good family behind me. My mum has been really helpful and thanks to her I’ve never had to miss a training session, so it’s just been nothing but positives to be honest. It’s just that extra bit of motivation in the gym.”
The Hatton legacy lives on.