Seventh heaven for Campbell

BOXER Campbell Hatton is to have a well-earned break from the ring after punching his way to a seventh successive victory since turning professional.

The 21-year-old from Gee Cross posted a points victory against Argentine Ezequiel Gregores in a six-round bout at the Manchester’s AO Arena.

Though it was a convincing performance Matthew Hatton, Campbell’s trainer, believes his nephew will benefit from a break.

“Campbell has had seven fights in just over 12 months, and I think he was a bit tired, though it was still a solid performance,” he said.

“He needs a little rest so will be out of the gym for a couple of weeks and have a well-deserved holiday.”

There was concern, however, from two boxers turned pundits.

Former world champion Tony Bellew was left worried at the punishment he took over the six rounds.

“Campbell is a face-first fighter and he took an awful lot tonight,” Bellew said on DAZN.

“I was uncomfortable with some of the right hands he was taking and how he was taking them.”

Carl Froch, another former world champion, also had words of advice.

“He didn’t have any respect for any of the punches coming back because they had no power.

“You can allow him that mistake if you like. He’s keen and eager to get his shots off, he wants to impress, and he wants to put that Ricky Hatton performance in which [featured] a ferocious pace.

“But you need a big engine for that, and a big heart and you need to be able to go through the gears which is what Ricky Hatton did.

“Campbell’s headwork and footwork is limited because of his lack of amateur experience; he’s a raw novice. I don’t want to put him down and rip him apart, but he’s got to realise.”

Also in action on the same bill was Hattersley’s Luke Evans.

The 25-year-old super-lightweight lost his 100-per-cent record as a pro with a draw against Argentine Miguel Cesario Antin.

Luke, who had won his first 11 bouts as a professional, had to pick himself off the canvas twice by a far more experienced opponent.

“I was hurt the second time in the fourth round and had to show something I had never needed before to get through adversity,” he said.

“It was a massive step up for me in terms of the televised show being my biggest platform, the biggest venue I had fought at and against the best opponent I had ever faced.

“There were a lot of positives such as still drawing when I had twice been on my backside as I showed the grit and determination needed to get to the next level.

“Had I not been knocked down I would have won convincingly on points.”

Luke added he underperformed saying he maybe was too eager to impress and too confident in his own ability against a seasoned opponent.

Indeed, promoter Eddie Hearn was sufficiently impressed to offer Luke a re-match against the Argentine this summer over eight rounds.

“If I had lost, it would have shattered my dreams, but a draw was not the end of the world and was probably better in some respects as it will get me on to the biggest stage again, hopefully at the end of June or early July,” explained Luke.

Luke will not be able to spar for several weeks in the gym as a cut above his eye needed four stitches.

“My body was also pretty bruised, and you can definitely tell I have been in a fight,” he said.

Luke had originally been due to fight in a show at the Bolton Whites hotel in Bolton but, when his opponent pulled out, he was given a spot on the undercard at the Manchester Arena where Conor Benn topped the bill beating South Africa’s Chris van Heerden for the WBA continental welterweight title.