Campbell Hatton, the son of late boxing legend Ricky Hatton, has revealed that his father's death 'saved' his own life. The 25-year-old, who followed in his father's footsteps as a professional boxer, said he was heading 'down a dark path' with cocaine and alcohol addiction and had planned to take his own life.
Father's Death a Turning Point
Ricky Hatton, a former two-weight world champion, was found dead at his home in Hyde, Manchester on September 14 last year at the age of 46. He had been planning a return to the ring. An inquest concluded that the official cause of death was hanging, but senior coroner Alison Mutch said it was not clear Hatton had intended to take his own life. The star had previously spoken openly about his struggles with alcohol and drugs.
In an interview with ITV Granada, Campbell said: 'A lot of my family did think when the police were breaking the news, they did think it was going to be about me – and it probably was not far wrong, it was probably weeks off. I was already in that place. I just think when we lost him, it did sort of save me in a few ways because I sort of had to sort myself out, because my family wouldn't have had it in them to go through it again.'
Struggles with Addiction
Campbell announced his retirement last July following a second consecutive loss to James Flint. He said: 'I've spent time in rehab and was struggling with addiction. I was off the rails. Drinking was a massive part of that and I was getting treatment for addiction with cocaine as well. There was no thought to the future, which was just self-destructive, and it is a bit of miracle that I am still here, but what a miracle it was.'
Boxing Comeback and New Outlook
Having signed with Misfits Boxing, Hatton is stepping up his training as he looks towards a professional comeback. He said he was also spending more quality time with his family. 'Being back in the gym is working wonders for me,' Campbell said. 'I had a bad year last year, and sort of had no direction with anything, and led me down quite a dark path.'
He added: 'I am not just getting by now or plodding through. I am enjoying my life and am like living again, so that is a massive change. [I am] getting excited about things again. I look back with pride a little bit from how far I have come.'
