‘I don’t want to put pressure on him but I think he’s got half a chance’: Ricky Hatton believes his son Campbell has a ‘massively exciting style’ and tips him to become a professional boxer… but says he must learn the fundamentals
- Ricky Hatton says his son Campbell is good enough to turn professional one day
- He said he has a ‘massively exciting style’ but still had plenty to learn in the ring
- The ex-world champion said he was making progress despite losses in amateurs
- The Hitman was speaking exclusively to The Gary Newbon Sports Show
Former world champion fighter Ricky Hatton believes his son Campbell has a chance of making it in professional boxing, but insists he still has plenty to learn in the ring.
Hatton Sr says Campbell has ‘a massively exciting style’ and is ‘dedicated’ having endured a tough experience in his amateur career so far, but still feels the youngster is making progress.
‘The Hitman’ urged him to ‘tweak his style’ and take on a few more of the fundamentals before thinking about going pro, admitting his pride to see him training hard to improve as a fighter.
Former world champion Ricky Hatton says his son Campbell can make it as a professional
He believes Campbell has a ‘massively exciting style’ and is dedicated to improving himself
But he warned the teenager still has to learn the ‘fundamentals’ of the sport before progressing
Speaking on The Gary Newbon Sports Show, he said; ‘I don’t think any dad had a better son, to be honest with you.
‘He’s an absolute credit to me. I know he makes me proud every single day. As far as his boxing goes – I don’t want to put any more pressure on his shoulders than what he’s already got, but I think he might have half a chance.’
Hatton, a two-weight champion, said Campbell had all the makings of a great fighter even though he has suffered a handful of losses on the amateur stage – adding that he was falling just short against rivals with more rounds under their belt.
‘He’s dedicated,’ he said. ‘He’s got a good personality, he’s got good style, he listens, he learns. The fights he’s lost in the amateurs are always by more experienced lads.
The two-weight world champion said he sees plenty of himself when he watches his son fight
He said Campbell had personality and was willing to listen and learn to build on his skills
‘He’s had about 28 fights now and the lads with the same number of fights don’t want to fight him! I don’t know if it’s because of the name or whatever it is.
‘So he’s fighting lads with double the number of fights and he’s just getting beat by the skin of his teeth and I said, “Even though you’re losing son, it’s progress”.
Hatton added that he thinks Campbell would do better once he turns professional as his style doesn’t quite suit the amateurs, and says he can see a lot of himself in him when he watches him fight.
‘I think he will go professional,’ he continued. ‘I think he’d make a better professional than he would an amateur. He’s got a style like me. I’ve taught him in the Ricky Hatton mode – he changes angles and he pushes and shoves and he’s aggressive, which sometimes in the amateurs hasn’t helped him.
Campbell and his father pose with heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury in 2018
Hatton Sr said his son had suffered a few amateur losses but is confident he will be a success
‘He would make a better professional but he can’t [turn pro] until he learns a few more of the fundamentals and the subtleties.
‘I always say to Campbell, “I was like a bull in a china shop when I first turned professional and thats why I got caught every five minutes. You’ve got to learn and tweak the style a little bit”. That’s where he’s at.
‘He’s got a massively exciting style and the minute you open your mouth – he talks more rubbish than me to be honest! Personality, he’s got the whole thing. I think he might have half a chance but let’s just see how it goes.’
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You can watch the full interview here on Thursday