A Moray boxing stalwart who once reffed a bout involving a teenage Ricky Hatton has paid his respects to the departed champion.
Back in the mid-1990s the young Hatton reached the final of a home nations contest, sponsored by the Daily Star newspaper. As this pitted the English fighter against an Irish boxer, it was decided that Donald Campbell, a Scottish referee, should officiate.
Ricky Hatton, who died earlier this month, and longtime associate Donald Campbell.
Donald, who still has a video recording of the televised fight, recalls: “Ricky won. Even back then it was clear that he was pretty special.
“We kept in contact for quite a long time afterwards.
“Once he became famous you’d often bump into him at boxing dinners where he’d be the VIP guest.
“On those occasions Ricky always make the effort to go round the room and talk to everyone and make them feel comfortable.
“He was one of the lads and people thought a lot of him. It was very sad to hear that he’s no longer with us.”
Ricky Hatton was found dead at his Manchester home earlier this month at the age of just 47.
His career saw him crowned the IBF’s world light-welterweight champion in 2005.
He also lost a brave 10-round battle to the US fighter Floyd Mayweather who’s regarded as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
The ‘Highland Haymaker’ was a Scottish international
Donald is a former fighter himself with a knockout punch that earned him the nickname of the “Highland Haymaker”.
A co-founder of Elgin Amateur Boxing Club in the late 1960s, he’s still reffing now at the age of 83.
Indeed, Donald was the man in the middle just the other weekend when the club hosted its latest fight night at Bishopmill Hall.
The evening featured a special boxing-style tribute to Hatton.
Donald explains: “We don’t have two-minute silences for boxers who have passed away. Instead the bell is rung ten times in their memory.”
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