b'ROUND 6Rickys the main man. I aspire to get there myselfThe latest pool score from the suiteWhen it was Wimbledon, they would stringin and theyre getting in the way andten and, as he said: From there, anything in Caesars Palace has Ricky Hattonup a makeshift net across two chairs ondisregarding you, that can be disrespectful,can happen. down by $35 to a player the scoresheeteither side of their street. When theirMatthew said.Anything? They box at weights only names as Joe Sharp Operator. At $5parents ran a pub, it was continual pool orMaintaining his focus is the key,half a stone apart; it does not take much a game, parity is a way off and howdarts. And being younger, Matthew tendedalthough he acknowledged that sometimesof an imagination to see them topping the Sharp Operator loves to rub that in.also to be the loser.he has failed in this. Such as the nightrankings together and that long-ago scrap But on the other hand, what Joe - akaBut a while ago, we were sparring andbefore Rickys famous bout against Kostyain the gym being settled for real. Hattons younger brother, MatthewId bought a new headguard. It was slidingTszyu, when Matthew struggled in anWould they ever box each other? In - would give for parity in the boxinground my head and he could see this andeight-rounder. With such a big fight, it canBoxing News last week there was a son world.see me adjusting it as we were fighting,sideline you, he said. Or his first defeat,fighting against his dad in Germany and the Many are they who follow Ricky Hatton,he said. One time, he hit me and it slidon another Ricky bill. I boxed terribly,son actually knocked his dad out, Matthew who boxes Juan Urango for the IBF light- round and I put my hand out to adjust it andthe Milky Bar Kid could have beaten me,said. Its sickening to think of anything welterweight title at Caesars on Saturday,immediately he cracked me in the back.Matthew said.like that. But my mum and dad would never and are not even aware that there is aRickys like that in the ring. Out of theTwo bouts later, Matthew lost again.allow it and I couldnt physically do it. younger model labouring his way throughring you couldnt meet a nicer guy, but inThats when you start thinking, WhyBut to be considered good enough to the welterweight ranks. Many are they,the ring hes your worst enemy. When heis everything against me? Maybe its notbox Ricky? Conversely, Matthew would find also, who know about Matthew but wantcracked me in the back, the red mist camegoing to work for me. that an honour. to talk solely about Ricky. Understandable,down and I took my headguard off, took myIt kept working for Ricky, but really, but it drives their mother mad.gloves off and went charging at him andMatthews self-doubt In some quarters, the Hatton brothersBilly (Graham, their trainer) had to jumpmerely flickered. Yes, do have parity. Because Matthew is alsoin. The cheeky bastard. But the next day itsometimes I am on theTHETIMESWednesdayJanuary172007 2WCSLSport 71TennisAustralianOpenboxing on Saturday, on Rickys undercard,was like nothing had happened.side of his circus, but/ Dust-upinthedesert ReadOwenSlotonHattonsbuild-uptothebigfighthe is given equal attention by the coachingMurray rues CLIVEBRUNSKILLGETTYIMAGES Conditions timesonline.co.ukMatthew said that he has inheritedthats life, he said.playersget Hatton Jr happy being sideshow to circus. Rickys team they share in Las Vegas; likewise, hethis volatility from his mother Rickys worked so hardPHOTOGRAPHS:MARCASPLANDthe blemish hotunderthecollarhas an equally large room in the Caesarscomposure is his fathers, until, of course,to get to where he is and suite they share. But step out of the liftthat marred deserves to be the maintheNeilHarmanhe gets in that ring. Matthew sometimesOnebyonetheystaggeredtheexhausted, sunburnt,in,thewoozyandtheallhadflying start samefrighteningtale It to andand he slips into the kind of anonymity thatlikes to strike out for himself; whenman. Ive got to aspire totell,onethatTennisAustraliathe grand-slam tournamentstogethermustheed.professionalisnotRicky lost long ago.Ricky was getting heavily into his boxing,get there myself.toexpectcompete in Glamandglitterfeasibleathletes tohad that wasnothingHe todo temperatures of 38C (100F)WDroppedgame ed landedit onthem. insist- andmore.People ask a lot, Do you feel a bit inMatthew was into football (he was invitedCan he? This is theShara- beckonsforcauseforirritation withthethoughtofmessingup Inhuman, Maria Davidhiscleansheet.Thebigtest povasaid. Terrible,out I like Nalbandian they youngerbrother,WVerdascoisnext that therehetonightsaid. wasfeltconcen- were from added,theandcaseNoof8 butheisbidingupforBritishNo1 tration, reallywellI untilI seed winners.theInRickys shadow?Matthew said, pre- to join the Oldham Athletic school ofI blunt version of thehadJanko mens his histimeonroadconcentrated Nalbandian,game.Obviously didnt Argentina,NeilHarman wanttoloseagameif didnt opponent, byTipsarevic,ofTennisCorrespondent havetobecause in you lifetime Serbia, led twosetsandatyourprobably twobreaksofempting the obvious question. What isexcellence). Although their father playedI I answer from Graham:to todoublingtheMelbourne getoneachance 6-0,6-0,6-0. 5-2inthe serve,hebutbeganeventowin match third,WhenKimClijsterswon6-0, missedacouple shots sensethathe familyglory6-0,barelyaneyelidwasbat- hadntbeenmissing.of Inthisheat,wasitwilting.isntremarkable about Hatton Jr, though, is notfor Manchester City and the whole familyIts fair to say hesbutsun,whocan tennis OwenSlot Reporterted;whenMartinaHingiswon Butwhat would any stand ChiefSports6-0,6-2,howwedespaired havebeen aiftreasure could more,inthe Tipsarevic,Murrayit longestthe desperately one-sidedat haveseenitthrough.Forget whoretiredwhiletrailing6-7, LasVegasthat the answer is yes, not that he knowssupports City, Matthew chose United. Butnever going to be atheWet said. the ThelatestpoolscorePalacefromtherounds grand-slam early Martn ahorridof recordwomens of matchesinthetourna- that,forhasaplayer hisrepute,in 4-6,At7-6,its6-0,most2-1, intense,ments. Then Andy Murray grand-slamtournaments(this absolutetemperaturetouched suiteinCaesars hassteppedintothepictureand washis34thappearanceand 40Cand BulbGlobe RickyHattondownby$35toait could hardly be otherwise, but that hewhat works best, of course, is when theyRicky Hatton, butboth say topped he out at playerthescoresheet off $5 asthecynicismdriedintheback he has reached the fourth Temperature Operator.namesAtofourthroats. roundonlyonce)becausethe 34C, dangerously JoeSharp andaMurraysentranceintothe momentyouenteryourname AlanMackin,the high.was game, isawayAustralian onthesheet,youputevery- drawnto that Briton,feltit parityOperatorlovestobeendelayedOpenand maycourthavehe was howthatSharpin.genuinely does not have a problem with it.are on the same side.memories,on thingonthe was happywith theres not anotherunfair to of continue, rub what Butontheotherthewassentouttocompete Murraywasline.not especiallywhenhewasplaying hand, JoeakaHattonsbore his melancholy hisservebut in takento NicolasLapentti, Ecuador. youngerbrother,Matthewin but Alberto6-0,6-0,6-1thevictory deuce ought the tobe Byhisthe6-4,middle6-4,of6-2thedefeatsecondbyseta wouldgiveforparity theover Martn, world inggame,onlysoonce,he notopen- ofThree years the junior, Matthew is the firstWhen Matthew boxes, Ricky works asfighter in the world whohigher boxingworld. theywho CuetheIOUs:Matthewkeepsacloseeyeonproceedingsonthepooltableintheirsharedsuitebefore,below,tottingupthedebtsaccruedbytheseniorplayerNo60,wasanemphaticdtell toohard Onocca- playerranked201Mackin was ManyHatton,are whoboxesfollowJuanstration.And could emobyn- sionssuchonashimself.this,accentuating than him, places Rickyhisbodylanguageyou that thepositive BFwasangrynottohaveMurraywon sothesharpnessisallofthatmovement,matters, UrangotitleforthateIthe lParisight-wHotelelter-Hatton to draw a professional bout, the firstone of his cornermen. He cannot do so onis.1993 weight onSaturday,and meetanicerguy,butinthe inandtheyregettinginthe way.BeatingFrankHoughtal-love,loveandlove.Britishplayer theprecisionofftheground, arenot meinthe canbedisrespectful,Matthew on American,con-andCasino ringhesyourworstenemy. wayanddisregardingyou,that ing,anexperiencedachieve a applaud ofthose.Andletthatus evenmodelawarelabouringthattherehisis Whentheheredcrackedmist Saturdayleapwouldin beto lose one (he has lost three), yet if thereSaturday: he has his own business to dealThis is howgrand-slamevent,when waythrough arethey,also,who and mygloves headguardoff, Maintaining he acknow- direction, thea intoto TheprevioussuchWalker, distinction thesereneall confidence, 1 toloos- Thelasttriplebagelina ayounger thewelterweight back, Itookmy camedown said. hisfocusisthe siderable elevatinghim rightwasMichael aWelsh- theBritishNorefusedman, DavisHerath,Cup enthe hadbeen Sergi 6-0, ranks.Many butwant took athim offandwent key, although hehas theIBFs ascanheofSriwhoLanka,beatinDishana screwThisoncewasit thoroughly Bruguera6-0, beat6-0Thierry know charging [Gra- said:Fromtopthere,tenanythingand,Euro-African tiein tightened. Champion talkaboutsolelyMatthewabout andhadBillyto ledgedinthatthis.sometimesasis any baggage associated with these facts,with. It is not the first time the pair havecannothidehis Matthew sees it: IFrenchOpen legsto to In their quarters,the Ricky. ham,theirtrainer] jump failed Such thenight happen. not halfTheyastoneboxapart;at1992.No relegationhasscored professional his Slapintheface:Murray feelingsashishopesofaperfectstartgobegging atthe Understandable, it in. Butthe before Rickys famous boutBriton Asthiswasintheeveryscenerespect.ofsucha unhappyfirst-round the drives motherreally,mad.but Thedaycheekyitwasbastard.likenothing againstKostyaTzsyu,when Anything?onlynext weightswininintheagraOpen handsofJuanIgnacioexitChela,at of handling any adversity the itshouldnothavebeenso. strugglingtogethis some Hatton itdoes takenament nd-slamera,tousor-historycouldhavebeenestab- Argentina,ayearago,Murray Online sportcanthrowathim. Paul-HenriMathieu,ofFrance, movewherehewanted. brothers do have hadMatthew thathehas MatthewWithstruggledsuchinaanbigeight-fight, imaginationtoseemuchthemoftop-anhappened.saidhe makes it look weightless.boxed on the same bill, but that bringsthat still believe I can goRodLaver BecauseMatthewis on alsoparity.box- inherited until,ofcourse, rounder. Iboxed said.Or pingtherankingsscraptogetherinthe andlishedbythe undera atthe hadgood to deal unrelenting problem ledVerdascoby the setsto Arena and ingonSaturday, Rickys hismother.thisRickysvolatilitycomposurefrom itcanfirstsidelinedefeat,you,onhe another thatlong-ago gymVodafoneArena19-year-old closed Ivelearntreasonhowto celebrate.with Fromlunchtime Yesterday,heatthe thatdictatedwas loveand3-0in twotie-break EvenofferedplayingSharapovaon hisslambetter,and undercard,heisgivenequal ishisfathers, Rickybill. terribly,the beingsettledforreal.rooffaravenueandfromanatmos- everything if thisismy today,NeilHarman nomatchesthetwoapartroofsfrom whenhecrumpledtothefloor, heropponent,CamillePin,ofWe couldnt be any closer as brothers,pressure on the first Hatton in the ring. Ithose all the way he hisrightankle.Five France, so noprotectionbecausethe attention hasan coachingteam hegetsinthat Richisky Matthewout Milky Bar Kid couldsaid.have WouldIntheyBoxingeverboxeachphere 6-0, removed aswe grand- seventh young last youlookwhoat giveshisexpert three would beneath tostartuntil clutching . Beatingstartedbefore their theysharebyintheLasVegas;like- sometimeslikesring.tostrike get- beatenme,Matthew other? therewas Newslastslamtournaments know all the players beallowed minuteslater,havingforfeited theirmatchandcherishthem. 15-0to playedpoorly year,[Rich- therewasnorisk the tears, waswheeledaway. temperatureshadreached wise,he equallylarge forhimheavily en was lostTwoagain.boutsThatslater,whenMatthewyou againsthisdadainsonGermanyfightingplayers.and self; week5-0, ard] Djoko- analysisofday That was to8.15pm inGiven notget peak, the roomin ting whinto boxing,forehand 6-0,Murray a vic, Gasquet,Monfils,[Novak]allofthem inMelbourne timewerestillbeingcalled onto thatuntilthey10.30pmdid and couldnotbe retractableacrossroofto andhe ButthestepCaesarsout suitethetheylift was theOldham hisdad Matthewsaid.ItstheAtSpaniard, andmissed [Gal] matches court drawnMatthew said. Then he told a ratherknow Ricky will be looking for my result,after Frank Houghtaling, anaside, share. slipsinto of kindof sport-obsessedbroth- Matthewwasintofootball(he startthinking,Whyisevery- andthesonactuallyknockedstringsof and slapped the wonprettycomfortablyinthe timesonline.co.uk/ play midnight. Murray will thematchwasstagedwith shieldthem.Conditions her anonymitythat a the lostlong ers,Beingtheyhadplayedendlessly Beltcarryon for invitedschooltojoinofexcellence). Rickysworkedso like out,tothinkofanything Ithose hisracket ifonefliesof firstround,hesaid.thatWeremeansall I tennis Spain, Fernando of moresecuritymeninandsitu,policeIlia Sharapova tough?The the ago. ask Ricky Do togetheraschildren,following Athletic theirfatherplayed hard,hedeserves sickening mymum it anddadpeskyMelbourneas maturing. And inthesecondVerdasco,round,but thansupporters 6-3,4-6,9-7waswin,askedwhyafterwas AlthoughBozoljac,of Marin matchso that.neverButsplendid story about a day in the gym whenMatthew said. If I win, thatll give him aexperienced American,condi- People in lot, you whateversportwasontelevi- 6Hattonisstillwaitingto ManchesterCityandCity,the tobethemainman would be allow doit. andCilic,of Serbia,playedand outin tions,shesaid. feelabit Rickys whole family supports couldntpre-empting tophysicallyFirst-roundresults inglike Croatia, Thereseemedweretimeswhenthe Matthewsaid, shadow?the sion.WhenitwasWimbledon, see the MatthewchoseUnited. But thing its But to consideredgoodcathedral-likehadsilencebeenexpect-noth- beplayedata obvious question. What is theywould whatworks enough boxRicky?Con-they were sparring.lift. The opposite is the case, too.I P-HMathieu bt (Fr)6-7,4-6,6-6ret; 6-4, JI ( 6-0;A on Saturday would be aa the1960s. remarkableaboutHattonJr, shiftnet of stringtwoupchairsamake-on he whetherforcharity25,000will whenthey best,onofcourse,sameis not againstto me?forMaybeme. versely,MatthewwouldfindNalbandian bt Tipsarevic 6-3,3-6,7-5,6-4;FSantoro(Fr)bt Chela(Arg) PStarace(It)7-6, Chakvetadze(Russ)btS n edafterwhatMondaysclashof matchreminiscentto of passable though,isnotthattheanswer eitherside across street.When star raised aCoronationStreet side. are the Ricky going work Ricky, thatan werepaceMen:Singles:Firstround:D 6-4;AClment(Fr)btXMalisse(Bel) 6-4; 7-6,(Fin)6-4;btSPWawrinkaGoldstein J BUaSm)mbetrY(A (Cro)btS 7-k5;r)L6G-2ra,6v-3il;le ethnicegosinthegrounds.The Indeed,Pingave herground- isyes,hardlynotthatheknowsbutit their their pub,itwas resultcarryinghisbeltinto He WhenMatthewboxes, ly keptworking mere- 6If beat honour.Houghtaling Sat-ininLapentti(Ec)bt Mackin(GB)ret;6-4,N Muller (Russ)bt Gaudio(Arg) G6-0, Ferguson hadlittle cheerinastheBozoljaccrowd caressinginsubtle younger, butItMatthewsself-doubtfor welterweight(Serbia)6-7,(Arg)4-6, A 7-6 J6-0, bt 2-1 Guccione Kunitsyn 6-3;N G7-6,6-3,6-0; bt (US)J5-7,Nieminen6-2, Kim(US)6-1,2-6,6-4, Kostanic Bueysgtreilaz)im6-e4r, (U btK (Aus) half-dozen toCroats 6-4,6-1. imitationofFranoiseservesDurr,and could he beotherwise, not being parentspoolranora darts.And thering to onSaturday.Hatton worksasonedoofsohisoncornermen.Saturday: am flickered. he sometimes to Frank willbeshortlived:Being sport-obsessed brothers, theyBut the circus can be hard to deal with.J J 6-2; ( 7-5,6-3;S considerable leap in thet in into that a genuinelydoes Three continual bethe Matthewtend- to InSeptember, at gloves he cannot ownbusinesstodeal he onthesideYes,ofhis to circus,butI their his MatthewboutHattonon(Lux) sweptthrough6-2, takingthepaceoff6-4,6-2;ORochus(Bel) C 4-6,6-2, Davydenko(Russ) (Switz)btK Stosur(Aus) forgot takesigned hashis thatslife, said.Rickys urday, joyhave problemwithit. edalsoto loser.(Aus)3-6,7-5,7-5,6-7,9-7;S 6-2, SRoitman(Arg)6-2,7-5,6-2; Blake 6-2; R PCapdeville(Chile) R bt 6-1, (Eoaliiwka(nA)u6s)-2b,7C 6-0, C Yluijnsgt-eJrasn(Bel)bt by WhenLleytonHewittRussell,trailed strokesFromtheatodrawSharapova the years (he bout,the Matthew if Butaand was ago, round acharityorganiseddinner byOldRyan with.Itisnot brings firstthetimesamethe workedsohard got gettotobewherethe heissoontostart prison withGrosjean F(Fr) C (Ger) R(Bel) Seppi (US)btCMoy(Sp)7-6, A Benneteau 4-6, 6-4; 6-2, 6-2.(Sp) Zaskto)pbatloFva Pe(Cnzn)et6t-a3,(6It-)1;7-K5,K7a-n6e;pAi an two a setstoMichael theagrim errors. set, to 5-0lead was thefirsttheHattonjunior,todrawapro-is sparring It he boughtweawerenew Trafford aidoftheFiveStar pairhaveboxedthe on the on isanddeservesto aspireto tenceforacrimea termedsen-as4-1ret; 3-6, Mayerbt Rochusbt Soderling Kuznetsov(US)btP M 6-2,(Aus)6-4; PKhlschreiber(Fr) (Ger)6-7,bt Nadal VTBardina -6h;aKn 6-0;AMorigami end Americanqualifier,for Aus- final back Russian one lostthree),yet myhead whileId Scanner the talingwascharged,had played endlessly together as children,The only time it really rankles is in theI L 7-6, KVliegen M right dir z , ection, elevatingstood fessional hasbaggage firsttolose headguard. sliding Giggsin soinstead to bill,butthat in pressure mainman.Ive istheblunt enterprisecorruption.Hough-(Swe) 6-4, 6-4, 6-4; Luczak (Bel)5-7, Singles: 6-3, 6 (Russ) u to bad 1, week hiscoach pegged the from 5-5. 62, at7-6, thereisany associated andseeme heauctionedAppeal,offtheright know belookingring.forI hisparents,hiswifealongandthree(It)bt 3-6,(US)6-4,6-1,6-0;6-7,A 6-7, btM5-7, 6-4,7-6,Zverev(Ger)R bt 6-3,(US)6-2, round: tralianNo on after lookedon Pin, worldNoReynolds Berrer6-7,(Ger)6-1, 3-6,6-4; Kendrick7-6,6-3;R 6-4, bt 7-5, R (Serbia)bt T (S bt Ginepri 7-6; bt JM Almagro(Sp) 6-3; A Women: A (Russ)FirstbtCPin(Fr)M6-3, bt 6-7,6-4,6-0;ABondarenko A (Ukr)btS walkedout That him, Hewitts twopoints victory line, withthesefacts,hemakesit were he andadjusting I it One carryhisbeltinLasVegas. my firstRickyHattonwill hima said.IfI getCantherehe?myself.This answerfrom otherfamily secu-(Cro)6-2, Bozoljac6-1;THaas MbtCilicA 6-2,4-6,(US)7-5,6-3;N Hewitt(Aus)4-6,bt Sharapova (J-4a;paVn)RabtzTanPoir(oFnrk)obvtaN(BPurla)t7t-(5A,2s-6) coulditseeasthiswe(Ger)following whatever sport was on television.gym. If there ar L e a lot of people comingL 6-3; bt T R 3-6, L Cohen bt him into the IBFs top) responded lookweightless. beanycloserThenas time, fighting,hesaid. slid Thewinnergavehisprize win, result,Matthew lift.The versionofthe fair a tosayhes ing saidthe members,andforfixingstag-Montaes(Sp) Lee 6-1,7-6; Taik MRussell(US)3-6,2-6,6-3,6-3, bt 4-6,9-7; Rodionova(Russ) (Cz) (Japan) Aloro E (Fr)6-1,7-6; Nakamura thecards. called question, 30-30. a Sharapova forehand Wecouldnt roundand hitmeand to whoplays thatllgive case,too. Graham: be RickyHat- falsecarinsuraccidentsanceBerdych(Cz) 6-2; Hyung (Aus) FDancevic(Can)btVHanescu(Rom) Vinci(It)6-3,6-1;RVoracova Danilidou(Gr)6-4,6-0; determination into shortof with crunching the myhand opposite nevergoingItstoKor)6-1,6-2, Smeets 6-3,6-3, DelPotro(Arg) MShaughnessy(US)7-5, andhehasneverbeen servicereturndownM Lacko (Bela)bt 6-2, D 3-6,6-1,6-4; DiMauro(It)6-3,6-3,6-1;FGonzlez Garbin(It)btEGagliardi(Switz) (Fin)4-6 b ytavOtsSeavvach(Ruuks(sU)kbrt) E that,sotheandlittlesecuredfellowafired3-6, immediately promptinglostthea brothers,Matthew adjustit me putimmediately StevePeacockbutthe Buttheiscircusthe can hardto ton,butin theresworldnotwhoanotheris. tors claimthes.ProfamilyMirnyi(Slovakia) in outheto actors Arnold,, scam7-6,3-6,2-6,6-4,6-4; Horna(Peru) (Chile) A 6-7,7-6, 6-2,6-1;ARadwanska5-7, (Pol)6-2;btAV S-M3,i7rz-5a;(AIndKiuad,r6-2,9-7;MHingis himselfup doublefault,which he told a rathersaid.splendid cracked and theback. Ashley schedulemaynot dealwith.Theonlybe timeit fighter the worked that for15yearsTursunov 6-3,6-2;btAEMurrayKorolev(GB)(Russ)bt Martn Lepchenko(Uzb) 6-3, 6aine permithimtotravel. reallyranklesisinthegym.If ThisishowMatthewseesit: and of(Russ)btAWaske(Ger)5-7,6-4,6-3, (Sp)6-0,6-0,6-1;FVerdasco(Sp)bt Ivanovic(Serbia)btVKing(US)6-2, (Switz)btNDechy(Fr)6-0,6-2. 2-6,It 6-3,6-3, serve.Andherfromchance.Nice gym abouttheya daysparring. OutRickysofthelikeringthatyouin couldnt therearealotofpeoplecoming IstillbelieveIcangoallthe collectedofdollars.hundredshadbeen6-3somevictory.day. 25-year-old her story when were in the thering. thousandsOutside Caesars, 1.13pm, Saturday 13th January 2007,Matthew pretending not to feel the cold page 29'