Campbell Hatton, the son of legendary boxer Ricky Hatton, has revealed that his father's death 'saved' him from taking his own life. The 25-year-old former boxer admitted he was only weeks away from suicide while battling substance abuse and mental health issues.
Campbell's Struggles with Addiction
Speaking to ITV, Campbell opened up about his battles with alcohol and cocaine addiction. 'I've spent time in rehab and I was just off the rails,' he said. 'There was a six months where I lost four people who were really close to me. Even before, I'd struggled to come to terms with retiring from boxing.'
He added: 'Drinking was always part of that and I was getting treatment for addiction with cocaine as well. I think it all goes hand-in-hand.' Campbell described his state as 'a bit of a miracle that I am still here' and admitted that when police broke the news of his father's death, 'a lot of my family thought it was going to be about me – and it probably were not far wrong. It was probably weeks off.'
Father's Death as a Turning Point
Campbell stated that losing Ricky 'did sort of save me because I had to sort myself out.' Since his father's death, he has made significant progress and is preparing to return to the ring. He has signed a multi-fight deal with Misfits Boxing and is set to fight in June 2026.
Ricky Hatton died at age 46 at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester on September 14 last year. An inquest revealed he suffered from a brain injury caused by his boxing career. During the inquest, Campbell described his father as 'very happy, always very laid back, except when it came to sport.' He noted that Ricky 'lived his life in and out of the ring at 100%' but struggled with mental health battles and memory loss.
Campbell's Return to Boxing
Campbell, who holds a 14-2 professional record, aims to honour his father's legacy. He is eyeing a potential clash with Aadam Hamed, son of former champion 'Prince' Naseem Hamed. 'There was no thought to the future,' Campbell said, reflecting on his lowest point. 'We felt he had been in the best place he had been in for years,' he added about his father before his death.
