Quigg is a top talent, says Hatton

[Faulks]

RICKY Hatton believes Bury’s Scott Quigg is on the path to glory as he prepares to fight in his home town for the first time next month.

 

Super-bantamweight Quigg is headlining the first professional boxing bill in the town since the sport was banned in 1997 after former council leader Derek Boden cited Mike Tyson’s ear-biting of Evander Holyfield as an example of “unacceptable levels of harm” in the sport.

 

The ban has now been overturned and the 21-year-old, who has won all 17 of his fights, 11 by knockout, and is on the verge of fighting for a British or European title, will finally get the chance to showcase his talents to local fight fans.

 

Hatton, whose promotions company are putting together the May 29 show, has tipped his protege for the top.

 

“The level at which Scott has got to in such a short space of time – he has beaten people who are ranked four and five in Europe – is excellent,” he said.

 

“Progress-wise he is ahead of me at the same stage in my career. We’ll take each fight as it comes but what Scott can achieve is endless.

 

“Scott is right up my street. He comes forward, is a body puncher and he has the reputation already as being a nice down-to-earth lad who is exciting to watch.

 

“He has already sold 400 tickets for this fight and that speaks volumes. Bury should be proud of him; he is everything that is good about boxing.”

 

Hatton believes it was the right decision to overturn the ban and believes the sport produces more role models than it sometimes gets credit for.

 

“Boxing got banned in Bury because of the Mike Tyson incident, but that was one incident and boxing is a sport that brings thugs off the street and makes them into gentleman,” he said.

 

“It makes better people of most of its fighters and that is one thing the council will have taken into consideration when they brought boxing back.

 

“I know Scott is proud of his home town and Bury had a champion in Ady Lewis who never had a chance to defend his title in Bury. I bet that is something that upset Ady but, fortunately, Scott will get the chance now.

 

“I am pleased to be the promoter that brought boxing back to Bury.”

 

Tickets are available from Hatton Promotions on 0161 775 7500.