Interviews
EXCLUSIVE: Campbell Hatton – Once in a Blue Moon
Boxing is a sport that can harm a person in many ways. Often, when a warrior becomes a parent, they beg and pray that their child will not follow in their footsteps.
The current British fighter lineup includes the second generation of Benn, Eubank and, most recently, Hatton. Campbell Hatton decided to lace up the gloves and continue his career in the same way as his father, Ricky.
The aforementioned Nigel, Chris and Ricky have cemented their legacy in the sport of boxing, financially securing their and their children’s futures, and yet they all still witnessed their offspring climbing the ropes, but why?
“Just because if you look at the highs, how good they are,” Campbell told proboxing-fans.com.
“Like any sport, if you succeed in it, it will be a great feeling. But I think boxing or any other combat sport where it’s just one-on-one has to be times 100 because you know that when you get them and you win and you succeed, you’re the only one who’s done it.
“That’s why I think in boxing there are the highest highs but also the lowest lows because it’s the same when you lose. I think the ups definitely outweigh the downs. I just can’t wait to see where things go.”
Ricky Hatton is part of his son’s management team and as a man who has not only been there and done it all, he will naturally have his son’s best interests at heart.
“I actually benefited from his experience and advice, which is the one thing he didn’t have.
“It puts me in a great position because not only did I get advice on what to do in the ring, but also advice on what to do at home and how to deal with all the other things around it. So I’m really joyful.”
This is often the case in the British mainstream media, where sports superstars are shamed and put on the front pages whenever they make a mistake. Ricky was no exception, he was nicknamed “Ricky Fatton” after he yo-yoed with his weight during his absence from training camp.
Ricky has overcome all these shadowy life experiences and believes that Campbell will stand him in good stead because there is no one better to advise him on this shitty issue.
“I think he will be the first to say there are a lot of things he could have done differently and he won’t let me make the same mistakes.
“I’m a lot like my dad, both in and out of the ring, but luckily I have his knowledge that allows me to see what can happen if you don’t behave like that between fights as well.
“I know the impact it can have, and I know I won’t make the same mistakes.”
Campbell made his debut in front of 500 fans in Gibraltar in March during the Dillian Whyte vs. Alexander Povetkin match. It was an opportunity to showcase his skills, excite fans about his modern breed of Hatton, and start being Campbell Hatton and not just Ricky’s son.
Social media was in full swing throughout fight week, but as we’ve become accustomed to, social media is fickle, and keyboards across the country were frantically typing out words of dismay and negativity following Campbell’s performance.
“I don’t pay much attention to social media,” said the 20-year-old.
“Of course the opponent was narrow in terms of skill and didn’t offer much to put pressure on me, but he wasn’t stopped.
“The people who say, ‘Oh, we have to get him out of there,’ are people who don’t really know boxing and don’t know what these journeymen are about.
“I didn’t underestimate his ability because he didn’t offer much offensively, but I don’t think I was mentally prepared for how tough these journeymen were.
“Going forward, it’s just another experience and another piece of knowledge that I’ve gained, but you can’t just roll it over. So moving forward, I’ll have a little more patience. I know you can’t just raze them to the ground, they’re there to do their job, right? And then that’s exactly what he did.”
Hatton admitted he felt like he wasn’t even using half of his abilities in the ring, but he can’t wait for May 1, when he will show how much he knows he can perform in his hometown of Manchester.
Thinking back to his debut, the super featherweight fighter recalled how emotional his entire family was. Father, Ricky was caught on camera shedding a proud tear as the blue moon poured out of the speakers.
“It was a great night for the whole family, not just me, dad, Matthew and I. Everyone at home was a nervous wreck watching it too.
“Everyone has been through it, me, dad and Matt, and I think during the ring walk even Adam Smith said on commentary how it brought him back.
“From what everyone told me, they said it was terrifying, like I had gone back in time all these years. This is what he wants. Not only success in the ring, I want people to treat me like they loved me, my dad. My dad said it was his greatest achievement. To be loved by fans in the same way, that would be my dream.”
Campbell recognized his flaws on his debut, the pressure was contributed to by his extensive media work, interestingly Hatton said “I’ve always dealt with name pressure quite well” and without the weight of his debut on his shoulders he looks forward to a long and fruitful career.
Hatton’s fighter before him, Ricky, advised his son that there were only positives to take from the professional bow.
“One thing my dad told me was, ‘If you want to be a champion, you have to deal with it. So you’re in a good position and you’ve already had a taste of it early on, so it won’t be as gigantic of a shock to you in the future.”
Looking ahead now, one thing is certain, Campbell Hatton is ready. A player like his father only comes along every once in a while and if he achieves half of what Ricky has achieved, he too will be a fan favorite.
Watch the full, uncut interview in the video below:
Natasha Jonas unified the welterweight division by defeating Ivana Habazin by clear points on Saturday to add the WBC title to her IBF crown at the Exhibition Center in Liverpool.
Jonas (16-2-1, 9 KO) was last seen defending her title in January in a hard-fought split decision over Mikaela Mayer, while Habazin (23-6, 7 KO) won the vacant WBC welterweight title in her home country. time out, winning by wide points over Kinga Magyar.
After a technical opening round, Jonas settled into a steady rhythm before landing a powerful right hand in the fourth round that crushed Habazin.
There was a rivalry, but the home favorite was much better in the rallies and seemed to be losing round after round.
This situation lasted until the final bell, when Jonas became the winner by scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 99-92.
Price is closing in on Jonas’ match
Lauren Price definitely stayed on as a collision course with Jonas and easily defended her WBA and IBO welterweight titles after a third-round fight against Bexcy Mateus.
Mateus (7-1, 6 KO) was on board in the first round, after the Welshman landed a powerful left hand, and the Colombian struggled to match Price’s speed.
The same shot caused the 29-year-old to repeat the punch in the second round, and the round later ended when another stinging left hand stunned Meteus and she fell to the canvas, after which the fight was stopped.
Price (8-0, 2 KO) has agreed to face Jonas next, and promoter Ben Shalom revealed it could be announced next week.
Knife edge passes McKenna
Lee Cutler scored an upset victory to claim the silver WBC International welterweight title after winning a majority decision against Stephen McKenna.
McKenna (15-1, 14 KO) was eliminated in the first round, his knee touching the canvas after being tagged, and Cutler (15-1, 7 KO) took full advantage of his opponent’s weakness in the seventh round when his right hand plunged into his knee. The Irishman who ultimately fell once again.
McKenna was relentless in his attacks and landed a huge number of punches.
The balance of 94-94 was surpassed by the scores of 95-93 and 96-92, which ensured the victory for Cutler.
Jeffers stopped Quartey
Mark Jeffers is on track for large fights in 2025 after defeating Joshua Quartey to defend his silver Commonwealth super middleweight title.
A pair of right hands put Quartey (10-1, 9 KO) on the board, and although he broke the count, a well-placed body shot after the restart by Jeffers (19-0, 6 KO) blew the guy away again.
A crazy attack after the restart forced a stoppage.
Riley secures Chamberlain’s face-off with a stoppage
Viddal Riley finished the heavyweight fight and stopped Dan Garber in the second of the scheduled six rounds.
Riley (12-0, 7 KO) hit Garber (7-4, 2 KO) with his right hand, and then his next attack forced the referee’s intervention.
Riley’s next match will be against Isaac Chamberlain on February 1.
Undercard remaining
Mason Cartwright (21-4-1, 8 KO) won all six rounds at super welterweight against Dzmitry Atrokhau (16-25, 7 KO), and Hope lightweight Frankie Stringer (9-0, 1 KO) did the same in the fight against Tatenda Mangombe (3-9-1).
In the flyweight division, Mikie Tallon (6-0) defeated Benn Norman (7-7) with a body shot in the first round of the match, and then settled for a 59-54 victory.
The only fighter to fight four rounds in the super featherweight division was Mason Devine (6-0, 1 KO), who won every session against Jayo Fernando Duran (15-34-1, 14 KO).
Dillian Whyte has revealed his predictions for the hotly anticipated rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury on December 21.
Fury, who knocked out Whyte at Wembley Stadium in 2022, will seek revenge for the only defeat of his career in just 11 days, after losing to Usyk by split decision earlier this year.
Despite losing the night, “The Gypsy King” was a major success and many are struggling to pick a winner in his second battle against the imperious Ukrainian.
Some experts believe Fury needs to be more aggressive and take the lead if he is to win.
I’m talking to Social boxingWhyte revealed he shared that view, asking the Morecambe man to return to the game plan that saw him destroy Deontay Wilder in the return leg.
“It’s a great fight, man, I’m still trying to think – how will this fight go?
“Okay, Fury can make changes, but Usyk can make changes too. It’s a tough fight, a very, very tough fight for both fighters.
“If I were Fury’s coach, I would tell him he has to play aggressively.
“Fight him like you fought Wilder the second time.
“Bring back the aggression, bring back the tyrant!
“This is heavyweight boxing – you never know.”
It is unclear whether Fury will heed the advice of Whyte and others in the boxing world who have advised him to take the fight to Usyk, but looks noticeably heavier than before the first fight.
What are the changes? ❌@Tyson_Fury says he will exploit exactly the same game plan as the first time when he faces Oleksandr Usyk at the end of the month.
Thinks? 🧐 pic.twitter.com/VtpEwLJkWx
— Professional boxing fans (@ProBoxingFans) December 6, 2024
Win or lose, the 36-year-old could face a long-awaited home fight against Anthony Joshua, even though “A.J.” interrupted defeat against Daniel Dubois in September.
While it may not have been as great a spectacle as it once was, a clash between Joshua and Fury would still be by far the biggest all-British fight in recent memory.
As for Whyte, he returns to the ring next Sunday night and will face Ghanaian heavyweight Ebenezer Tetteh live on DAZN in Gibraltar.
The All-American fight between lightweight world champions Gervonta Davis and Shakur Stevenson is one of the most anticipated fights in all of boxing.
Both Davis and Stevenson are undefeated multi-weight champions and are staples on any respected pound-for-pound list.
With this in mind, you could be forgiven for assuming that the pair locking corners in their prime years is a given, but that doesn’t seem likely to happen in the near future.
“Tank” spoke to the media at the press conference inaugurating his performance March 1 fight with Lamont Roach, and when the prospect of fighting Stevenson arose, he didn’t seem particularly interested.
The Baltimore hitter even went so far as to question what his compatriot did to deserve him.
“What for? Who has Shakur [beat]? What did Shakur do?
“What has he achieved in sports? He didn’t do anything! Juvenile people look better than him!”
“Keyshawn [Davis] you look so much better than that nigga! Shout it out nigga, he ain’t done nothing!
I asked Gervonta about a possible fight with Shakur… #Box #TankRoach pic.twitter.com/T1eNFJ9iIO
— Dwa O Dwa Z.. (@Noo_Barzz) December 3, 2024
“Why the hell are you saying his name?”
Like Davis, Stevenson will also return to action in the first quarter of next year, fighting against up-and-comer Floyd Schofield on the February 22 Riyad season card.
The Newark southpaw has been sidelined since his July decision victory over Artem Harutyunyan after he had to withdraw from a proposed October fight with Joe Cordina due to injury.
Saudi boxing boss Turki Alalshikh has expressed his willingness to have a fight between the two virtuosos, provided both are successful in their upcoming fights.
‼️ His Excellency Turki Alalshikh stated that he wants the Gervonta Davis vs Shakur Stevenson fight: “My plan for Shakur is this fight [vs Floyd Schofield]then William Zepeda, and then let’s see if Tank wants to come on our show.” [@DAZNBoxing] pic.twitter.com/Mmi6hO7Fjo
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBenson) December 3, 2024
While he undoubtedly has the talent to rival Davis, Stevenson is not as commercial a star as his rival, and some critics believe he needs to start giving more entertaining performances if he wants to get substantial names.
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