Ricky Hatton’s son Campbell retired from boxing for tragic reason just months before dad’s death

Ricky Hatton with his son Campbell earlier this year (Picture: Getty)

Ricky Hatton’s son Campbell retired from boxing at the age of 24 just months before his dad died aged 46.

British boxing fans were keen to see Campbell follow in his father’s footsteps as The Hitman was one of the most successful and popular fighters of his generation.

Lightweight boxer Campbell made his professional debut on the undercard of Alexander Povetkin vs Dillian Whyte II in March 2021, beating Jesus Ruiz on points.

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Hatton junior fought on another huge undercard in September 2021 when he beat Sonni Martinez before Oleksandr Usyk beat Anthony Joshua at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Campbell appeared to be making solid progress in his bid to win titles but suffered deflating back-to-back defeats to James Flint last year.

Ricky Hatton confirmed his son had decided to retire in July, meaning he finished his professional career with a 14-2 record.

‘No, Campbell won’t fight again,’ Hatton said at the time. ‘As you know, he didn’t have much amateur experience.

Rick Hatton started training his son Campbell (Picture: Getty)

‘He gave it a go in the amateurs, and then he went pro and gave it a go. He fought for the Area title and got beaten. I thought he lost it to be fair.

‘But then he fought the same lad straight away after. I thought he won the second one; they were both very close fights. But he lost a little bit of his mojo, and then a few things went wrong.’

Ricky became his son’s trainer in March but Campbell decided to retire shortly after.

Hatton senior said the death of one of Campbell’s best friends had impacted him in recent months.

Campbell Hatton retired from boxing at the age of 24 (Picture: Getty)

‘He went through a bit for a time, and he was in the gym, and his heart wasn’t in it,’ added ‘The Hitman’.

‘I said, “Listen son, you should be very proud of yourself, you have given it a go, but if you have lost your mojo, you need to get out”.

‘You can’t play boxing, you can play any other sport. So I advised him, and now he is doing solar panels.’

Ricky Hatton, a British sporting icon and a two-weight world champion, was found dead at his home in Manchester on Sunday.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: ‘Officers were called by a member of the public to attend Bowlacre Road, Hyde, Tameside, at 6:45am today where they found the body of a 46-year-old man.

‘There are not currently believed to be any suspicious circumstances.’

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