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Ricky Hatton’s son Campbell spoke exclusively to ITV News’ Mike Hall about his father, Tyson Fury, and a charity boxing night.
Ricky Hatton’s son has said his dad “wouldn’t have done anything different” in his career ahead of a tribute event to remember the late boxer.
The 46-year-old, described as a doting father, was found dead at his at home in Hyde, Greater Manchester on Sunday 14 September.
An inquest into his death heard it was not clear the former boxer intended to take his own life, and post-mortem evidence showed some brain damage caused by repeated head injuries commonly found in contact sports.
An inquest found Ricky had brain damage often found in athletes in contact sports.
Hatton’s son Campbell told ITV News that his father’s passing has not affected his potential return to boxing.
He said: “We do know the risk going into it and I think if you’d have been able to ask my dad that question now I don’t think he’d have done anything different.”
A Las Vegas themed tribute night is set to take place in Manchester in June called ‘Evening4Ricky’, to remember and celebrate his life.
Campbell said: “There’s already been so many great tribute to my dad so far and there’s still more to come.
“There’s going to be a lot of famous faces there and a lot of people who my dad knew as well so it should be a good night. It would be great to see everyone down there, I’m sure it will be an emotional one.”
He said the event will be a happy celebration for his dad, but he’s sad that Hatton will not be there to see it.
Ricky Hatton with his son Campbell.
Hatton’s good friend Tyson Fury paid tribute to him in his comeback fight on Saturday 11 April, where he beat Arslanbek Makmudov.
Fury’s gloves – coloured light blue for Hatton’s beloved Manchester City – said “there’s only one Ricky Hatton”. His shorts also had “RIP Ricky” sewn into the back, in the same light blue, and he walked to the ring with ‘Blue Moon’ playing.
Campbell said: “It was a nice surprise to see everything he did with the shorts, the ring walk and the speech afterwards as well, it was another level.
“I can’t thank Tyson enough, he was a good mate of my dad’s and they went on a nice journey with Tyson’s comeback together so it meant a lot to us as a family.”
Tyson Fury paid tribute to his old friend Ricky Hatton in his comeback fight. Credit: PA
Campbell has also hinted at a return to boxing, despite the findings of the inquest into his dad’s death.
Hatton was found to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a type of brain damage likely caused by his life in the ring.
An expert told the inquest it was rare to find in someone of his age, and was usually only found in older people with Alzheimers.
A tribute night will take place in Manchester in June.
Campbell said the news was not a shock, as he had noticed his dad’s memory getting worse in recent years, but it would not stop him from getting back in the ring.
He said “I think maybe we could do a little bit more in regards to supporting fighters and letting them know the risks because it is something that does get overlooked.
“Maybe there’s more we could be doing but I definitely wouldn’t have changed anything.”
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