Campbell Hatton slams heavyweight top dogs for not fighting each other

EXCLUSIVE: Campbell Hatton slams the heavyweight top dogs, insisting ‘there’s NO reason’ why Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Co shouldn’t be fighting each other… while the unbeaten prospect looks to make another statement of his own on Saturday

• Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have not reached an agreement to fight yet
• Anthony Joshua may not return until December after fighting last month 
• Campbell Hatton has called for the heavyweight elite to start fighting each other 

Campbell Hatton has hit out at the current state of the heavyweight division, with Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk still yet to agree a deal for their proposed undisputed clash.

After Fury beat Derek Chisora in December, the Gypsy King went face-to-face with Usyk at ringside, and the pair were expected to meet in the first half of 2023 to determine the best heavyweight on the planet.

Yet negotiations broke down in March, with Usyk’s team pulling out of talks due to Fury’s demands, leaving both men looking for new opponents.

Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua returned to winning ways last month against Jermaine Franklin, but announced afterwards that he doesn’t plan to fight again until December.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has since revealed that the Middle East are interested in hosting a huge night of boxing that could see the former two-time champion face Deontay Wilder on the same night as Fury taking on Usyk.

Campbell Hatton is frustrated that Tyson Fury (left) has not fought so far this year

Anthony Joshua (right) fought last month, but may not be back in the ring until December

 Eddie Hearn has since revealed that the Middle East are interested in hosting a huge night of boxing that could see AJ face Deontay Wilder on the same night as Fury taking on Usyk

Fury has denied talks have taken place, though, and has been linked with a fight against little-known Australian heavyweight Demsey McKean.

Hatton is frustrated by the situation, with the division left in limbo, and has serious doubts about whether the huge event in the Middle East will happen. 

The 22-year-old is desperate to see the best fighting the best, as has been the case with the lighter weight classes recently, and admits the heavyweight elite have no excuses for not facing each other.

‘They were talking about having both fights on the same night. I’d be amazed if they could pull that off, but if they did, what an event. Every telly in the world would probably have that on. But it just seems such hard work,’ Hatton told Mail Sport when discussing the proposed mega-event in the Middle East.

‘I saw that Fury was looking at Demsey McKean in Australia, so it doesn’t seem too likely. There seems to be a lot getting in the way of it all, and I think fights like Ryan Garcia and Tank (Gervonta Davis), and Loma (Vasyl Lomachenko) and (Devin) Haney is setting the example of how all the weights should be doing it. 

‘Obviously, the matchmaking has got to be smart for people up to a level, but once you’re at that top, top level like they are, it shouldn’t matter who’s in front of you, they should be taking every fight. 

‘They’re not at the learning stage of their career, they’ve done the learning. There’s no reason why these fights shouldn’t be happening.’

While there has been an alarming lack of activity in boxing’s blue-riband division, that has not been an issue for Hatton.

Hatton has won 11 straight fights since turning professional and is back in action on Saturday

Hatton won his last fight inside the first round and feels his power is improving over time 

The unbeaten prospect is set for his third fight in just over two months on Saturday when he takes on Michal Bulik at the Manchester Arena. 

Hatton is pleased with the momentum he is building, having won four of his last seven fights within the distance.

He believes his power is starting to develop as he settles into his career, and the 11-0 rising star has set his sights on challenging for his first title over the coming months.

‘I think I’m settling down a lot more into the fights themselves,’ he said. ‘Even though it sounds silly because it was a first-round knockout last time, but because it was an eight rounder I went in there with the mentality that I’d got loads of time so I weren’t rushing my work and I was sitting down on my shots. 

‘And I think that made the difference with power as well, because early on where I thought I’ve only got four rounds or I’ve only got six rounds, I’d start getting too rushed and neglect getting the power into my shots. 

‘And I think because I had that eight rounder, longer fight mentality, I was throwing my shots correctly and that’s why we’re seeing more stoppages.

Ricky Hatton’s son (above) is hoping to challenge for a title over the next six months

‘I definitely want another one (fight) in the summer if Matchroom can deliver it, which I’m sure they can, but the mind’s on this one. But I think by the back end of the year, possibly early next year, a title of some sort would be well within my reach.’

Hatton’s fight coincides with the end of the football season, and the lifelong Manchester City fan has an exciting fortnight to look forward to, with Pep Guardiola’s men aiming to complete the Treble by winning the FA Cup and Champions League after sealing the Premier League title last weekend.

Hatton, who will be attending the FA Cup final against Manchester United at Wembley, has claimed the current City side is the best to grace the Premier League, and feels Guardiola deserves to be held in the same regard as Sir Alex Ferguson if his team win three trophies this season.

‘I think the football we were playing last season, to win the league without a striker, scoring as many goals as we did, it shows how good they are as a team. And now you fit Haaland in the mix with that, it’s like the finishing piece. They’re definitely the best team I’ve ever seen from Man City,’ Hatton added.

‘There’s a bit of debate at the minute, but I think it’s probably the best Premier League team of all time. It’s in our nature as City fans to be a little bit doom and gloom at times because we can make hard work of things like QPR (in 2012) and Villa last season but I’m really confident that we’ll do the Treble this year.’

Manchester City sealed their third straight Premier League title last weekend

Hatton believes Pep Guardiola deserves to be compared to Sir Alex Ferguson if he wins the Treble this season

‘I think if he (Guardiola) was to do the Treble, he’s definitely matched it (Ferguson’s achievements), as long as we get all three this year. 

‘It’s one of them where Ferguson hasn’t done it in all the leagues that Guardiola has. He’s done it in every country that he’s managed, he’s won their league. 

‘Whereas you could flip it on it’s head and say that Ferguson didn’t have the resources and didn’t have the starting point that Guardiola did when he took United on. 

‘It’s hard to say really, but if we win the Treble he’s definitely level with him in my opinion.’

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