British welterweight boxer Ricky Hatton is pictured at home with (from left) his father Ray, his brother Matthew, his son Campbell and his mother Carol in 2007. Photo: IC

In June 2005, Britain's Ricky Hatton took on Australian Kostya Tszyu in Manchester. Some say the local's win was the greatest night of his career.

Fast forward 16 years and the pugilist protagonists are long retired but the family name lives on.

Hatton's son Campbell made his professional debut late last month with a super-featherweight win over Jesus Ruiz in Gibraltar.

The younger Hatton, known as 'Hurricane", won on points and his father, the "Hitman," was proud as punch.

"I knew these masks would come in handy because no-one could see me crying," Ricky said after the fight. "They were singing 'Blue Moon' and 'There's Only One Campbell Hatton.' It's a very proud night for me as a dad, very proud for us as a family." 

Ricky's brother and Campbell's uncle Matthew, a fellow former pro, was the youngster's coach.

"He's only had a handful of amateur fights, only been doing it a few years and he's already gone professional at 20.

"It's a good learning fight, the opponent was perfect, very durable."

"You saw in flashes what he's capable of," Hatton senior said after the fight. "He's only had a handful of amateur fights. He's only been doing this a few years. Sometimes he got too involved but that only comes with experience."

The new pro said that there is more to come from him in the ring.

"I don't think I boxed my best, I know I can do a lot better than that," Campbell said after his debut professional win. "As much as I tried not to, the nerves got to me a bit. It can only get better next time.

"I have a lot of the strengths that my dad had and one of them is the body punches, that's a big part of my game. If I can get that to where my dad is, which I think I can, I don't think there'll be many who last with it."

Fill in the shoes

Days later it was the turn of Tim Tszyu, Kostya's son, to take the next step on his own professional boxing path.

Tszyu retained his WBO global super-welterweight title in Australia on March 31 - and he was straight on the phone to his father who has since returned to Russia.

"Just spoke to him then," Tszyu told the media of his father in the immediate aftermath of his win. "I couldn't really hear him too much, but he was pretty happy."

Tim is now the No.1 contender for the WBO world title held by Brian Castano.

"I'm not satisfied, I haven't achieved anything in my eyes yet," he said. "My dad was an undisputed world champion for 10 years, what have I done?"

Like the younger Hatton he says there is more to come.

"Give me a few years. I've got a long way to go, my comparisons and my goals are out of this world and that's what I'm going to be striving for."

Perhaps one day the sons will be in the same division and put on the kind of show that their fathers put on that night in Manchester.

Famous surname 

They are not the only boxers who carry the weight of a famous surname into the ring.

Conor Benn, the son of former British world champion Nigel Benn, is set to put his own unbeaten record on the line this month. He fights Samuel Vargas on April 10.

"I now understand that certain pressure comes with my name and that will always be there," the 24-year-old told Hypebeast in March. "I've had to come to terms with it over the years and now I just use it as extra motivation".

"Growing up around my dad I was always naturally drawn to the sport of boxing. Once I felt confident in my abilities as a boxer. My dad's always been in my corner with words of encouragement or criticism if needed, but he's also let me make my own impression on the sport and taken a backseat when necessary too."

He is excited to test himself against Vargas in the bout.

"He [Vargas] brings a real threat and one I'm really excited for," Benn told Hypebeast. "He's definitely going to bring the heat on April 10 [Saturday], and I'm going to match fire with fire - so it should be explosive."

"It would mean everything to become world champion. There was a time early in my career where I didn't know if I could achieve that level, but after years of training and growth both physically and mentally in and outside the ring, I know that I can."

Up next is the elder statesman of this generation of boxers sons following in their fathers footsteps: Chris Eubank Jr.

He returns to the ring in May to fight Marcus Morrison. This is a stepping stone, providing he can win.

Eubank's new promoter Kalle Sauerland has the biggest targets in mind for his client.

"Golovkin is the No.1 target," Sauerland told Sky Sports. "GGG is a legend but he's there for the taking. This is the right time to make the fight. It's a great fight."

Not everyone is supportive - something that Benn, Hatton anf Tszyu might come up against.

"He can get in the mix because his name always brings a lot," rival boxer Callum Smith told Sky Sports in February. "He carries his dad's name so he has a big profile. He talks a good fight so will always talk himself into big fights."

The answer is to do their talking in the ring.