Despite suffering his first defeat, Ricky Hatton believes that his son Campbell’s reputation and fan base will have actually grown, as he now embarks on the journey of rebuilding.
Last month, Campbell took center stage in Sheffield, attempting to secure the Central Area super-lightweight title against James Flint, twenty-five years after Ricky triumphed over Tommy Peacock in Oldham.
Campbell’s journey to secure his first belt and compete in his inaugural 10-round contest marked significant milestones. Prior to this, he had not made a remarkable impact in his 14 previous fights.
Flint, the more experienced fighter, earned a well-deserved victory over Hatton, who had previously remained undefeated. Although Hatton displayed admirable determination, it was apparent that he still had much to improve upon.
“He didn’t fight a good fight but there’s no blame on anything it’s just an experience,” his father told Boxing News.
He was inexperienced in a 10-round match and lacked knowledge of pacing. He began the first round with reckless energy. Campbell, similar to his father, had great stamina. Even I, with my own good stamina, would have exhausted myself if I started at that pace and tried to maintain it until the end. It is crucial to understand when to increase your effort, when to relax, and when to strategically wear down your opponent while preserving your own energy.
Ricky Hatton gained renown for his exceptional work-rate, stamina, and powerful body punching, culminating in his achievement as the unified world champion at 140lbs in 2005. This beloved hero of the working class only experienced his first defeat when he faced the legendary Floyd Mayweather Jr in December 2007. While Hatton’s aggressive fighting style was exhilarating to witness, he advised Campbell not to overlook the value of possessing such a skill and not to let it go to waste.
Ricky stated that having a good engine should be considered a luxury rather than a necessity.
“He may start with great speed, but only if it’s a pace of precision and effective punches that hit the target. Campbell was throwing punches rapidly, but in a prolonged 10-round fight, it takes more energy out of you than the opponent if you’re throwing numerous punches without landing any.”
“The second round I thought, He’ll slow down and think, and he didn’t,” he added.
“He went quicker and quicker. And in the end, he showed tremendous heart and guts and character to dig in certainly in the last round. That last round I had my heart in mouth thinking, Oh my God he might get stopped here but he dug in. He’s not gone in there and got his head boxed off, he’s been outmanned and been out experienced but he can get that back.
“I think his stock and fan base went up in defeat because of the manner of it and he’ll be back. That’s what fighters do. He’s a fighter, he’s got a big heart and he’ll come back. I think more people are thinking, Fair play to him he dug in there. If he comes back stronger and better I’lI think he’ll be respected by them people.”
After recently separating from his uncle and former trainer Matthew, Campbell is currently searching for a new trainer. Ricky assures Campbell that both he and his brother will be available to offer him guidance whenever needed.
Ricky expressed, “He simply desired a change.”
“Matthew has done an exceptional job mentoring him over the years, even from his amateur days. I believe it is the right time for Campbell to venture out on his own. He has made his own decision and is seeking new experiences. In this industry, opportunities are scarce, and Campbell deserves our full support. Both Matthew and I have always assured Campbell that our doors are open for advice, no matter who he chooses as his trainer or where he goes.”
