John Hedges had a choice to make.

When the unbeaten cruiserweight split from his longtime trainer Mark Tibbs just weeks before this weekend’s English title fight with Nathan Quarless, he could have been forgiven for withdrawing, taking his time to find a new gym and then attempting to revisit the fight in the future.

Instead, Hedges scrolled through his phone before ringing International Boxing Hall of Famer Ricky Hatton and called in a favour.

Hatton kept his word and the 23-year-old quickly packed his belongings before making the 200-mile trip north from his Essex home to Manchester.

The partnership officially gets underway this weekend when Hedges (10-0, 3 KOs) and Quarless (13-1) meet at London’s Copper Box Arena on the undercard of the heavyweight rematch between Johnny Fisher and Dave Allen. The event will be broadcast by DAZN.

"I've been friends with John for a few years now. We've got a couple of mutual friends and I've obviously known him through the boxing and I've always heard good, high praise of him. We've been on a couple of holidays together and I just said, 'I'll always be there for you if you ever need me' and the phone call came," Hatton told The Ring.

"He said, 'Listen, I haven't fell out with where I'm at, I just fancied a little bit of a new move. Will you be there for me?'

"I said, 'It's only six weeks away and it's not a tickle, it's a serious fight. Get down here as soon as you can.'"

Not having the luxury of a three-month long ‘getting to know you’ period or the ability to hand pick an opponent has injected some real urgency into the new alliance.

Quarless is as solid a test Hedges could encounter at English title level. The Liverpudlian’s only defeat was a wide ten-round decision defeat to Viddal Riley 18 months ago. Given the way Riley recently took apart the dangerous Chev Clarke to win the British title, the defeat hasn’t aged too badly.

Hatton is far too experienced to have attempted a total overhaul of Hedges' style but has worked hard on getting to know his new recruit and adding some different layers.

Don't expect to see the tall, talented Hedges marauding forward, spinning around his target and working Quarless over inside but you may well see him employ a little more spite and imagination once he does track down a fighter who relies heavily on movement.

Hedges was a decorated amateur but as skilful as he is, Hatton feels like it is vital for a cruiserweight to have something extra in their arsenal.

"I think you can see it there on the pads. We've been coming in training Monday to Friday but me and John have been coming in every Tuesday and Thursday as well at the night just getting used to each other on the pads and technique," Hatton said.

"We've been getting into each other's way of thinking and it's fitting like a glove.

"I feel like I've had a good start with his amateur pedigree and the gym he's just left with Mark Tibbs but I do think I can add a lot more to it. I still think he fights very amateurish and - not that I want him to turn him into a Ricky Hatton or a Rocky Marciano - but I think there's a few little things and a few little tricks that feel I can add a lot to his game.

"In his first few spars here and his last few fights, I think he depends on his height and his reach and no one's been able to figure it out or suss it out because he's 6ft 6in tall and a southpaw but, sooner or later, he will find someone that figures out his style and his height and reach and that southpaw stance and he's got to have the other things in the locker waiting for him. I think that's what I can add to it."

Hedges will be hoping that Hatton helps him unlock his true potential but his unexpected arrival in the gym has also provided Hatton with some new avenues to explore.

Hatton and his assistant Blain Younis oversee a small, promising group of fighters but having a young, unspoiled talent like Hedges walk through the door is a welcome sight for any coach.

This weekend sees them undertake the first step of what Hatton hopes will be an ongoing project.

"It's a challenge for me. I'm always learning as a coach and to have a 6ft 6in tall southpaw come in the gym has been good for me," Hatton said.

"I've been given a good start by the people that I've just mentioned but it's very exciting for me as a coach. He hasn't even started yet. There’s so much more he can add, needs to and hopefully I can be the one to do it for him.”