Campbell Hatton has big shoes to fill in. After all, you will always be under scrutiny as a boxer when your father ruled the boxing ring for 15 years when he was active. But he doesn’t feel that pressure of living up to the name or even the desire to emulate his father, Ricky Hatton. He wants to chart his own path. But there are some things that he has inherited from his father. Boxing prowess is one. The other is his emotionally appealing ring walk.
Hatton, 23, will square off against James Flint on October 26 at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, in a rematch as he attempts to exact revenge. Despite a loss in their last encounter, he still starts as a favorite for many. Given that he is fighting before his home crowd, you can expect him to perform his distinctive ring walkout, which holds emotional and nostalgic value for the fans.
Campbell Hatton vs. Jesus Ruiz
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Hatton made his professional debut on April 3, 2021, at the Europa Point Sports Complex, as he had the grand stage at the Dillian Whyte vs. Alexander Povetkin undercard. He had his father in the stands and the locker room accompanying him. The British boxer then mirrored his father’s famous ring walk, as he walked out to the beat of the Manchester City anthem, “Blue Moon.” That’s not all. He wore Manchester shorts and gloves, just like his father in his heydays. It was a nod to his father’s legacy, which had become a signature element of the Hatton family’s patriarch’s entrances.
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It set the tone of the fight as he handed a comprehensive beating to Jesus Ruiz to kick-start his career. It was a memorable night for Ricky Hatton too, who watched it all up close as he tried to hold back his tears when his son entered the ring. Recalling the moment, he had declared, “They were singing ‘Blue Moon’ and ‘There’s Only One Campbell Hatton’. It’s a very proud night for me as a dad, very proud for us as a family.”
Making ‘Blue Moon’ his trademark
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After a month’s break, Hatton made his splendid debut; he had the opportunity to make his grand entrance before his home crowd in Manchester. He fought a four-round contest against Levi Dunn at the Manchester Arena. As expected, he blasted ‘Blue Moon’ as his walkout song, which swayed the fans and sent them into a frenzy. His father, Ricky, again accompanied him, and he, like other thousands of fans, watched him turn in a terrific performance, which resulted in another victory. It not only gave the fans a reason to cherish, but the fight also showcased Hatton’s credentials as a boxer.
However, ‘Hurricane’ had to wait for 4 more fights before fighting before the home crowd. But when he made a homecoming in a fight against Ezequiel Gregores, he enjoyed the limelight and the love that fans showered on him. In a post-fight interview, he even said, “Best experience in my life, that ring walk was absolutely buzzing, in boxing anyway.” The high-voltage entrances continued to sway the fans. He even broke the internet as he used ‘Blue Moon’ in his fights against Tom Ansell and Louis Fielding last year.
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Will Campbell Hatton walk to ‘Blue Moon’ again?
The lightweight boxer’s ring walks have received praise for their high energy, which then sets the tone for what is to come next. What’s more? Everyone had noted the emotional connection between Hatton’s walkout and his father’s legacy, making it a memorable experience for every fan in the stands. It seems Hatton has decided to carry on his father’s legacy through his ring walks.
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There have been very few instances of him picking a different track altogether, such as a fight with Sonni Martinez, where he used ‘Bring it on down’ by Oasis. Given the fact that the rematch with Flint happens in Manchester, you can expect him to play ‘Blue Moon’ as he walks to the center of the ring and gives fans another night to remember.
What do you make of these ring walks by Campbell Hatton? Do you think he will try to replicate his father’s iconic ring walk once again? Let us know in the comments below.
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Is Campbell Hatton's 'Blue Moon' entrance a tribute or a crutch in his boxing career?