Preaching patience – Ricky Hatton pulls rank in Brett McGinty opponent debate
Ricky Hatton has had to rein Brett McGinty [1(0)-0] in ahead of his second pro fight tomorrow night.
The Donegal middleweight came through as tough a debut fight as you can get late last year when he nigh on went life and death against Jan Ardon over six.
Having come through that and banked some serious early experience the 22-year-old wanted a tougher test for his Skydome in Coventry clash on the undercard Sam Egginton and Carlos Molinaâs WBC ranking title fight.
However, Hatton, who didn’t want Ardon as a debut opponent but gave in to McGinty pressure, is stamping his authority this time around – and was adamant his charge would have a progressive learning fight rather than a sizable test.
The Commonwealth Youth and European Junior medal winner will now take on the extremely durable Jordan Grannum, a survival specialist ‘The Hitman’ believes is a more suitable opponent for McGinty at such an early stage of his career.
âHe wants to impress everybody,â continued Hatton. âHis debut was a bit tougher in the ring than we wouldâve all wanted it to be but heâs better for that and youâre going to see that on May 22nd.
âI told Brett I didnât want the fight [v Jan Ardon]. Brett had not boxed for a long time. It was a long time since his last amateur fight. He had come over to Manchester, away from his family, his loved ones, and because of Covid and the lockdown his medical seemed to take forever to get through. It was an absolute nightmare. It was a very frustrating time for Brett.
âBrett had actually sparred with him [Ardon] and done really, really well. So Brett said to me; âNo, no I canât take any more disappointments. I really want to fightâ, so we flew with it.
âHe was a tougher opponent than I thought but Brett showed his guts, his determination; he showed his heart and he came through it. This time he wanted a better opponent but heâs already had that side and far more of a fight than he shouldâve had.
âIâve said to him it wonât be long before weâll have plenty of tough fights for you. Learn your trade first. Put a couple of hours in the bank. Get the experience and learn. Once youâve ticked a few more boxes then weâll go for a test, thatâs how it goes.”
It’s not that McGinty isn’t capable of defeating more ambitious or talented opponents, Hatton just believes he stands a better chance if armed with the kind of experience you can only get from fighting.
The former world champion isn’t in a rush with his pupil and wants him to learn on the job without massive risk of defeat.
âI understand it can be frustrating as I can see his potential. You have to take that learning as you go along. You have to improve opposition, improve stamina, heart, desire. Brett already ticks a lot of those boxes. I donât want him ticking those boxes on his debut, I want him reaching them as we go along.
âHis debut at six rounds, it was very tough but it will have done him the world of good. Knocking a guy out seconds in, there is no learning in that. It was a tough opponent for him but, again, there is no rush going forward. My intention is to keep moving him slowly, slowly as we go along. Small but important steps.
âWhen we feel the need to move up a level weâll do that. And weâll know ourselves when that time is right. Brett has confidence in the people behind him.â
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