Jimmy Joe Flint: ‘Campbell Hatton will see I’m still like a little feral dog’

Public workouts are a necessary evil of modern boxing. 

Yes, they are part of a late bid to attract attention to an event but, if they are honest, most fighters would rather do anything but hit pads in a shopping center when they are about to begin the serious business of making weight. 

Rather than staging the public workout for Jack Catterall’s junior welterweight clash with Regis Prograis on the Wednesday of fight week, Matchroom held the event 10 days out from fight night. It was a good decision.

The fighters dutifully arrived at Manchester’s National Football Museum but rather than disappearing immediately after doing their ten minutes of ring work, most were happy to hang around and talk. 

BoxingScene caught up with Jimmy Joe Flint as he stood quietly in a corner watching Campbell Hatton go through his motions. Seeing his opponent at close quarters gave Flint a timely boost during his last hard week of training.

“Obviously, seeing him before fight week just gives me that bit extra,” Flint, 14-2-2 (3 KOs), said. “I’ve got my last 10-round spar in the morning and it just gives me that extra bit of motivation; that extra big kick up my arse because I know what I’ve got to do.”

In February, the Central Area super lightweight champion took Hatton’s unbeaten record when he ground out a hard but deserved ten-round decision victory in Sheffield.

A rematch seemed inevitable from the moment Flint’s arm was raised and, this weekend, the pair will pick up where they left off on the undercard of the fight between Catterall and Prograis. 

Hatton has spent the seven months since the first fight holed up in the gym, working with his new training team at the Ben Davison performance Centre but Flint couldn’t afford to sit and wait for the rematch to be agreed.

In June, he lost a typically hard fought split decision to Kyle Boyd but Flint is a hard-nosed honest professional who fights for a living and treats defeat as an occupational hazard.

In fact, in terms of keeping him sharp and battle hardened ahead of what seems certain to be another grueling battle, it was ideal preparation and the result hasn’t affected his belief that he will beat Hatton again in the slightest. 

“They can say what they want,” Flint said. “When I’m in there, I’m still there like a little feral dog and not moving out of his way. We’ll see how much he’s improved. We’ll see how his footwork is. We’ll see his boxing and see what else he’s improved on but I can’t see him improving by an awful lot.

“I have watched it back but I’m not too clinical on stuff like that. I just leave it to my team, they do the job. They watch it and they can see where we can improve and see where we’ve not done so great. When they come up with a game plan, I just go out and listen.”

Flint spent six years battling away on the small hall and Area title scene before Hatton’s emergence as a genuine rival gave his career an unexpected but welcome boost.

Now, the 27-year-old from Doncaster is preparing to play his part on another major show and he knows that beating the Mancunian again will guarantee him another big opportunity.

“It’s unbelievable. It’s stuff you dream of as a little boy, but I don’t fight for me anymore. I fight for my family and my little girl back at home. I need to put food on the table, so I’m a provider and this is what I’ve got to do. 

“It’s massive. It’s like a world title fight. The card it’s on and the event is going to be great. I can’t wait. It’s obviously a lot bigger than the Sheffield one and I’m happy to get the opportunity again.

“I’ll beat Hatton and then sit down with my team. It’s one fight at a time and we’re going into everything confidently and seeing whatever comes.

“I’m not overlooking Hatton. I know I’m going to have an improved Campbell Hatton but I still think I’ve got his number.”

John Evans has contributed to a number of well-known publications and websites for over a decade. You can follow John on X @John_Evans79