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As if making his Las Vegas debut, underlining his status as the world’s best junior welterweight and setting up a pound-for-pound collision with superstar Jose Luis Castillo isn’t motivation enough, Ricky Hatton will be fighting to get his hands on a special birthday present for his son next weekend.
Hatton challenges Juan Urango for the IBF 140lbs (10stone) title he never lost in the ring at the Paris Hotel on 20 January – and the vacant International Boxing Organisation championship will be on the line as well. Hatton flew out to the US last weekend – allowing his body two full weeks to acclimatize – but that meant missing Campbell’s sixth birthday last Wednesday.
“It’s very hard, missing these important dates,” admitted the “Hit-Dad’. “But I called him up to wish him happy birthday and he knows I will make it up to him.”
And the Hitman has promised to bring home a replica IBO title belt for six-year-old son, Campbell, should be successful in winning his fourth straight world title challenge.
Hatton explained: “Each time I win a new belt, I get a miniature one made for Campbell. It started a couple of years ago – Campbell started getting my world title belts down from where I display them and just looked at them for ages. He loves them. Then started to take them over to his granddad or whoever and say “This is the IBF belt, me and dad beat Kostya Tszyu for this one’.”
Hatton continued: “He’s got a WBU title, an IBF one and last year we had an WBA belt made for him after I beat Carlos Maussa. They are kept side by side with my belts at my house. It’s become a family tradition after when I win another title, Campbell gets his own belt.
“Campbell comes in with his new belt and we introduce him as “the NEW” champion and clap him. Then he lifts his belt up and celebrates. I sometimes wish it was that easy for me to get my own belts but he seems to enjoy himself!”
Now Campbell, nicknamed “the Little Nugget’ by his family, is hopeful his fighting father will bring home a band new prize from Las Vegas.
“He’s not got an IBO belt yet,” said Ricky. “But he’s always on the lookout for another one for his collection.”
Team Hatton have contracted the IBO with the request to make a replica should the Hitman be successful next weekend.
And IBO President Ed Levine said: “In an era when heart warming stories in boxing are in short supply, the IBO will be delighted to present to Ricky’s son, Campbell, his very own IBO belt should Ricky be successful in winning the IBO title.”
