Boxing is one of those sports that runs in the blood of certain countries and communities across the globe.
It is also a sport that can spread through families and generations, with the passion of the game rubbing off between brothers and sisters, parents and children.
Over the years we have seen many famous boxing families come to the fore.
Laila Ali began competing in 1999, 18 years after her father Muhammad Ali retired.
Laila herself retired in 2007, undefeated. During her career, she held the IWBF light heavyweight title, and the WBC, WIBA, IWBF and IBA super-middleweight titles.
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More recently Chris Eubank Jr. has continued not just his father’s name, but his career choice as well, in his role as a professional boxer.
While his father was a two-weight world boxing champion, Chris Jr. held the WBA interim middleweight title in 2015 and secured it again in 2019. Between 2017 and 2019, Chris Jr also held the IBO super-middleweight title twice.
But these days there can be no families more synonymous with boxing than the Fury clan.
At the last count 12 family members were listed as boxers, ranging in age from 56-year-old John Fury – Tyson’s father – to 21-year-old Tommy Fury – Tyson’s cousin.
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The latest family member to step into the boxing limelight is Campbell Hatton, the 19-year-old son of Ricky Hatton.
Campbell has signed for promoter Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Sport after impressing in the amateur ranks. His professional fight debut is expected to take place in February 2021, over eight years since Ricky last stepped into the ring.
A former world champion at light-welterweight and welterweight, Ricky ended his career in November 2012 with a record of 45 wins, 32 KOs, from 48 fights – not to mention a large, loyal and very vocal set of fans.
Now Campbell says he can rely on his father for support as he takes the step into the professional arena.
Speaking in a Matchroom Sports promotional video, Campbell said: “I have sacrificed my whole life for this. Boxing means the world to me, it is going to help me provide a better life for my family.
“My dad is one of the heroes to me in the ring and from a boxing perspective. He’s supportive out of the ring as well. I couldn’t really ask for much more.”
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And right on cue in the supportive father role, Ricky also had some words of wisdom for Campbell, saying: “You haveve got to have the right attitude, the right mentality. Always be confident but remain humble.
“Be aggressive in the ring but still have your wits about you and be cautious. That is the way you have got to approach life.”
Former world champion Ricky is also optimistic that support for his son will come from his own fans.
"I think people will take him to their hearts like they did with me. He has the talent and the ability to be a real force and success story in the game.
“I think people will love his personality, he is a chip off the old block. Fans will love his fighting style."
And with Campbell himself already a father to two-year-old Lyla, it could be just a matter of time before this boxing family grows yet again.
