Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.
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Campbell Hatton, the son of Ricky Hatton, begins his professional boxing journey on the Alexander Povetkin-Dillian Whyte card Saturday in Gibraltar (DAZN).
Hatton, 19, will face Jesus Ruiz (0-10) in a scheduled four-round lightweight contest, with his father by his side.
While taking in the picturesque views in the British territory ahead of fight night, the senior Hatton addressed concerns that Campbell’s first pro fight was taking place on such a high-profile card.
“To be completely honest, the first time he stepped into the boxing gym and picked those gloves up, I just knew it was going to happen because it’s in the genes,” the former world champion told Sky Sports.
“He’s got a lot of pressure on his shoulders, a lot to live up to, and I’m very, very proud of him and the build-up that Sky Sports and Matchroom and 258 Management have given him. But it does put a lot of pressure on the little man’s shoulders.
“I wouldn’t have let him do this, though, if I didn’t think he was able to cope with it all. He’s got a great platform here and I think people are gonna like what they see.
“It’s a little bit different to [the town of] Widnes! I was very fortunate that I was able to box in the big shows, a lot of Naseem Hamed undercards. I fought my second professional bout at Madison Square Garden underneath Nassem against Kevin Kelley, and I coped with it well enough.
“I think he will cope with it well enough too on stages like this. And it’s beautiful, isn’t it? Getting used to fighting on stages like this will stand him in good stead further down the line when he gets where, hopefully, we think he’s going to get.”
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