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Being the son of a famous fighter is never easy, particularly if the father is one of the greatest boxers his country has ever produced. That is the pressure and comparison Campbell Hatton has had to deal with throughout these early years of his career.
But while father Ricky kickstarted his successful career by winning the British Central Area super-lightweight title back in 1999, son Campbell was unable to follow suit in the lightweight division on Saturday night.
Competing on the undercard of Dalton Smith’s sensational stoppage of Jose Zepeda in Sheffield, England, Hatton suffered the first defeat of his professional career in his 15th fight, losing on points to Jimmy Joe Flint.
“Early on I stuck to the plan but I have no arguments, he came on strong,” Hatton, 23, said. “I think I did enough but no arguments. I just have to learn. I would love to do that again. All respect to Jimmy Joe. I hope I showed a few people I am more than a silver spoon, I can dig in.”
The defeat to Flint – a durable but domestic level fighter – is a significant blow to Hatton’s hopes of establishing himself as a fighter, and ultimately getting out from his father’s shadow.
Hatton ‘Will Be Back’
Ricky Hatton was a multiple world champion at junior-welterweight and won a world title at welterweight. He was unbeaten through the first 43 fights of his career, only losing his unbeaten record to the great Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Campbell Hatton, who turned professional in 2021 with no amateur experience, is quite far away from the glamorous world title fights his father routinely contested during the prime of his career.
However, he is still only 23 years old and is learning on the job, so there is still plenty of time to overcome this setback and produce a credible career for himself.
“I say well done to Campbell, no doubt he’ll come again,” said Flint. “Great fighter, a young kid, he’ll be back.”
The defeat for Hatton is only heightened by who is father is, and promoter Eddie Hearn believes his fighter will come back stronger – after admitting the right man won on the night.
Hearn Would ‘Love To Make The Rematch’
“I’m glad Jimmy Joe got the decision because he had a great tenth round. I thought he won by one or two rounds, and you got to learn from that,” Hearn said. “It was a big night for him, and it was a big night for Campbell Hatton.
“It doesn’t matter who your dad is. If you have courage like that and you give the public a fight like that, you’ll be back. He’ll [Hatton] learn a lot from tonight. He showed tremendous heart, and he couldn’t have done any more.
“He did everything in camp. You can go back to the changing room and go back home and cry, but look at yourself in the mirror and say, ‘I just wasn’t good enough,’ but he will improve from that.”
Hearn said he would be happy to arrange a rematch between Hatton and Flint, but suggested Hatton could have one more fight before that happens.
“What he did was give incredible entertainment and great fight. I’d love to make the rematch,” Hearn said. “Give Campbell one fight to come back and go straight back in. It was a brilliant fight, a brilliant effort. Well done, Jimmy Joe, and well done, Campbell Hatton. He showed that he’s built for this game.”
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