Campbell Hatton has a lot to live up to. While most fighters aged 21 and with eight fights under their belt are toiling in small halls, he has already fought in arenas and stadiums. His father was Britain’s legendary two-weight world champion Ricky Hatton, one of the most popular boxer’s this country has ever produced.
Such attention would claim a lesser man. Being thrust into the spotlight at a stage where most of his colleagues are free to learn in obscurity. But the unbeaten Mancunian is making it work.
We spoke to Hatton about his development as a professional, sparring ‘The Hitman’ and his take on the controversial Tyson Fury vs Derek Chisora threequel.
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You’ve boxed professionally for over a year now. How are you finding it?
I've loved it. I'd probably say my career's gone perfectly as far as development has gone. I've had lots of top experiences on big cards. Then I've also had a few more quiet shows where you can go and learn your trade. I've had ups and downs to my career. I think as far as getting the experience behind me, it couldn't have gone much better.
The sort of early-career attention you’ve received is usually reserved for Olympians. How have you handled the increased scrutiny?
It's something I struggled to deal with at first. I was always very eager to please and tried forcing things, which I still do a little bit now. I'm sort of getting used to dealing with it better and gradually easing it out now. As I get more experienced in the ring, I'm getting more experience with the build up outside as well and learning how to deal with it better.
There's two very obvious influences on your career in your father Ricky and your uncle and trainer, Matthew. Outside of the Hatton clan, who are your boxing inspirations?
I’ve always liked the Manchester fighters. Jamie Moore, Michael Gomez, Anthony Crolla. Those types of names. I have met a lot of them, I’ve been able to get advice off them whenever I’ve seen them around the gym or at shows. Obviously I’m dead grateful for that. And then obviously, on the world stage, it's the likes of Canelo. He is one of my favourites to watch and to try and take little bits from his fights and add it to my game. Like Roberto Duran, those types of aggressive fighters.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
My favourite is probably when I boxed at The MEN. I’d boxed there before but it was the first time in front of a crowd. Having all my friends and family and everyone from Manchester backing me was one of the best feelings in my life. The Joe Ducker fight at the O2 was probably my best performance up to now. Those are probably my two highlights.
What has been the low point for you?
My lowest point in my career was when I boxed at Tottenham. I was a bit like a deer in the headlights coming out and was a big learning curve for us all as a team. That was where we decided that was too much too soon. It’s what triggered us to go away to a few quiet shows where I can just take the pressure off myself a little bit. So even though that is that obviously my worst performance to date, in hindsight we know why. But it's probably one of the things that sparked the improvements because it made us go away from the spotlight and since then I've just been improving with every fight.
You’re fighting in Abu Dhabi for the first on the Dmitry Bivol vs Gilberto Ramirez card. Looking forward to making the trip?
Really excited. I don't know how us pasty lot are going to do out there. But really excited. Again, another massive card and a top experience for me to go box abroad. It just can't come quick enough.
Tyson Fury has confirmed Derek Chisora will be his opponent for his next defence of the WBC heavyweight championships. What are your thoughts on the fight?
A bit disappointed with it really. Derek's always giving value for money and he is a warrior, goes out on his shield. He's going to be entertaining. But we've all seen it before, we've seen it twice and I can't see it being any different. I was hoping for something a little bit different, maybe a bit more of a challenge. Obviously Tyson's thought of as the best heavyweight on the planet at the minute. So to see a fight that he's already won twice and won fairly comfortably, it was a bit of a letdown really.
Another fight we’re expecting an announcement on any minute is the rematch between Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall. What did you make of the first fight and what do you expect to see in the rematch?
I think Jack Catterall was brilliant on that night and I think they got the tactics spot on. I saw the documentary they did on BBC with Josh Taylor and it showed how bad his camp was. It was there for everyone to see how much he was struggling with weight. He had a bit of a problem with illness and I don't know how much that played a part in it.
But I think if Jack Catterall can go in there and put in a similar performance it’s a hard fight to call. Josh Taylor is an unreal fighter on his day. He didn't show that in the first fight, but he’s probably one of the best British fighters we've got. So it is a massive ask for Jack if Josh Taylor is on it, but he’s well capable of pulling it off. Tactically it was spot on, it wasn’t just that he got Josh Taylor on a bad night. He genuinely put in a career best performance. If he can do it again, who's to say he can't come away with a decision this time.
Your Dad also has a fight in the calendar. Ricky Hatton will be taking on Marco Antonio Barrera in an exhibition fight next month. What was your reaction when your Dad told you he’ll be fighting again?
Yeah, really excited at first. I was…not sceptical about it, but I was curious to see how it was going to be done. Because I didn't want to see my Dad in a proper comeback, a professional comeback. So when he explained to me it’s an exhibition and he told me it's Barrera I was excited for it. I’ve seen how he's prepared for it. He's done two camps because it’s been put back once. Seeing how well he's looking and how well he's been performing. We got a few rounds in ourselves, I saw how fit he's got himself. Really excited for it and I think he’ll do really well.
So you actually sparred your Dad? What were those rounds like?
Just before it got postponed we sparred twice and you could have done it in a phone box. It must have been a mad one to watch. But I was surprised. I knew I knew he’d be sharp because when you've boxed at such a good level and you've got that boxing brain, you'll never really lose that. He had a good six-threes in him and neither of us pulled any punches. It was at a right pace. I was surprised just how fit he was, after all that time out. It just gave me more that he's going to perform.
Who would you rank as the five greatest British fighters of all-time?
I'd say Calzaghe, my Dad. I think Lennox Lewis is in there. You got to say Tyson Fury is in the top five. I’d probably say Josh Taylor to be fair. Obviously not in his last fight, but the performances he had leading up to that like the Prograis fight which was a top win. In the Ramirez I thought he looked unreal. He’d get in there.
You’ve grown up during one of the greatest periods in the history of the club you support, Manchester City. Who is your favourite player?
I’d have to go with Sergio Aguero after that QPR goal but David Silva’s in there as well. It’s a tough one.
Erling Haaland is the City player everyone’s talking about. Given his build and physicality, do you think he could have made a decent boxer?
I think he'll be one of those people that are just naturally good at sport. I think anything he went into, any sport he went into I think he'd do alright. He’s gifted physically, he’s absolutely massive. He's got that power that you see when he starts accelerating. He's unstoppable so I think he’d do a bit of damage in the ring.
Finally, can you share with us a funny moment you’ve shared with your Dad?
I’d probably say the time he dropped me as a kid. He’s the only man to drop me. We had a little spar, I must have been about 14. I was having a move around, he was holding off obviously and then I think a little bit of muscle memory and he just sunk a left up to the body and dropped me. The first thing he said was “Don't tell your Mum!”.
