Campbell Hatton (14-1, 5 KOs) has joined trainer Barry Smith following his defeat to Jimmy Joe Flint in Sheffield on March 2. 

Despite Hatton’s efforts, Flint demonstrated his quality and experience fighting at a higher level by claiming a unanimous points win against the son of former two-weight world champion Ricky. 

The defeat to Flint had come as a shock to his handlers and promoters Matchroom, who had expectations of Hatton collecting the first title of his career in the shape of the BBBofC Central Area title. 

In the weeks after the loss, Hatton announced that he had split amicably from trainer and Uncle Matthew, himself a former fighter, to explore other coaching avenues. 

Hatton took to social media to confirm that he is now training under Smith at the Ben Davison Performance Centre in Harlow, Essex. 

“Buzzing with the opportunity to train with Barry and the @BenDavison_ Performance Centre. Time to get to work,” Hatton tweeted on X. 

Trainer Smith, who regularly assists trainer Ben Davison with the likes of Anthony Joshua and Leigh Wood, has been responsible for Jordan Gill’s recent upturn in fortunes following his knockout defeat to Kiko Martinez in September 2022. 

Smith guided Gill to one of last year’s most prominent upset wins with a stoppage victory over Michael Conlan in seven rounds in Belfast in December. Victory positioned the Cambridgeshire-based Gill into a final eliminator earlier this month against Zelfa Barrett. 

Despite defeat to Barrett, Gill produced a credible performance, despite being halted in the 10th round. 

Outside of Smith’s work with Gill, the colorful trainer had been a staple on the circuit in London and was previously based at the famous West Ham gym in east London, having worked with the likes of John Wayne Hibbert, Dean Byrne, Tommy Martin and the Upton brothers. He is now part of the Ben Davison team at the performance centre, along with Lee Wylie.