b'ROUND 9Hell take some shifting. It might take a war to win itThe gospel according to Ricky Hattonin a sport sliding downwards in publicfamily since the age of 12, when he had arippling with muscles. Both men weighed this week has been the Las Vegasawareness, even in its home city.job excavating sand from the local riverbed.in at 139lb, 1lb under the limit last night. experience and how much he wantsOf course, tonight is the time to make aHis earnings here will be about 250,000,Hell take some shifting, Hatton said. to make it here as an American idol.real impression and Hatton knows it. Nosix or seven times the size of his previousTheres a good chance itll take a war. While he has been preaching the lineone is going to go home disappointed, hebiggest payday, so you wonder whetherCertainly, neither boxer has a record for into any and every microphone thatsaid - except for his opponent, Juan Urango,just getting to the ring might be motivationtaking a backwards step. Urango is known can get near him, a few blocks awaywho is being hailed as a boxer with a styleenough.for throwing wide, arcing body shots. there is a life-size Simon Cowell inthat will contribute to the show, albeit as itsThe forces that drive Hatton areTheyll be heavy when they land, but you residence at the Las Vegas Madamedefeated party.interesting, too. I have achieved thedo tend to see them coming, Hatton said. Tussauds, alongside Elvis, MuhammadUrango has not had a great deal to saymajority of my goals, he admitted. He alsoThis is a step up for Urango to a level to Ali and those who have really made it.about that. Indeed, while Hatton, 28, hasappears to have come to terms with thewhich Hatton has become accustomed. So Hattons career now has an endgamebeen pronouncing daily on the qualitiesidea that his greatest moment is behindthe challenger should win; the questions element to it. He is at the stage wherehe intends to exhibit, Urango has kept hishim - Kostya Tszyu is the fight I thinkconcern the quality of the victory and retirement is a subject for discussion,counsel. He has thanked God a lot, butIll always be remembered by - and thatwhether he can persuade the city he loves where his remaining bouts will dictateotherwise he has looked on unperturbed,retirement may come at the age of 30, onlyto reciprocate.whether he, too, will go down as someonewearing a wide smile that suggests his self- two years away. who made it or as another Briton whosebelief has not been remotely dented.A mentality such as hopes were buried in the Las Vegas boxingWhen pushed, he gives an inklingthat may also suggest graveyard.of a reason. Fourteen months ago,an athlete whose driving96 Sport3WC THETIMESSaturdayJanuary202007On Las Vegas Boulevard there is the LasHatton defeated Carlos Maussa, anotherforce is petering out -BoxingDust-upinthedesert BoxingVegas Walk of Stars, similar to the moreColombian, who has recently been briefingwhich brings us back toWitterfacedWinning not enough for Hatton, the withroleofcelebrated Hollywood Walk of Fame. Thehis countryman. Maussa said Ricky wasthe whole Vegas thingwarm-upactonly catch here is that you have to splashnothing out of this world, Urango said. Heand Hattons obsessionman who wants to conquer a nation oncemoreMARCASPLAND RonLewisout $15,000 (about 7,600) for the privilegeadded that Maussa had been ill before thewith putting on a goodJuniorWitterhasbecomewhenusedtobeingHattonthesideshowtopbilling.Ricky takesInthefilleddaysthewhenMENHattonArenaregu-and it is hard to imagine Hatton paying forbout and that he believed that Ricky couldshow. Rather than losinglarly Manchester, inhis Witterwasnativeoftentoofbesupporters.there booedthebyundercard,Hattonsonthe honour of being celebrated. As he hasbe beaten.interest in it, he said,legions changedisThingsevenhavethoughnot Wittermuch,TheBritontakes theonewhoisaworldchampi-said, he wants to do it on his own, his ownYet although it is Urango who is theIve got to make sureonJuanUrango onatpresent.Tonight,atAlex-andraPalace,NorthLondon,thiseveningona ofhis makeslight-welterweightWitter thefirstdefenceWBCway. People can spot falseness a mile off,holder of the IBF light-welterweightI dont let the occasionmissiontodazzle Sizeableobstacle:AlisspeedshouldprevailagainstthebulkofValuev,left Sugarsweet:theachievementsofRobinson,right,surpassthoseofCalzaghe titlewidely is considered theamore beltthanboxingscapital, IBFonesignificant tryingtowinHattonbackinLasVegasagainsthe said.title belt for which they are competing,get to me. This desiresaysOwenSlot ArturoMorua,ofMexico.astheirtheSkySportspickedtheboutofThe toRicky stay-awakeBritishlegHatton,agospelthisaccordingweek pay-per-viewshowofIn Las Vegas, it would seem,he has been portrayed as little moreto dazzle, he said, isHatton as Vegas wants hasbeen surewayforWittertobeover-theLas experienceand lookedagain.Itsnotideal,buthowmuchhe tomakeit Imgettingpaid,hesaid.here an American askingforapreachingidol. WitterwithhasHattonbeenthey recognise his genuine appeal. Athan a stepping stone. Billy Graham,perhaps the reason thatWhilehehasbeen andevery match Therivalry d for l seventhelineintoany years. hasbeenmicrophonethatcanget timesrespectful,attimesbitterathim,afewblocksawaytherenearis andisunliketolytoenhim, Hat-untiwhichcommentator in Thursdays Las VegasHattons trainer, has even set down ahe has stepped up hisalife-size atSimonCowellin tonagrees face soon. makeresidence theLasVegas doesnotseemlikelyMadameTussauds,alongside star,theElvis, Muhammad Ali Hattontheismanthe whowillticket-madeandit. seller,Review-Journal hailed him as my choicedream retirement sequence: first Urango,preparation in everythosewhohavereally anend- people styleisno Witter,Hattons aterrifictakepunchernotice,inbutthetypicalgameelementcareertoit.has is awkward taught bystagewhere He atisthea BrendanIngle, also-ran.retirementfor the Peoples Champion. Twice thisthen Jos Luis El Terrible Castillo, thedepartment - and theresubjectfordiscussion,where 591lbhisremainingboutswilldictatewhether too,willgoit downassomeonehe, whomade orasweek Hatton has publicly used the wordMexican who also boxes here tonight,are statistics that showanotherBritonwhoseLas hopes Thecombinedweightofb ereburiedinthe Vegas McCline,Valuevhischallenger,woxinggraveyard. Nikolay andJameelaOn Las Vegas Boulevard recordforaworld-titlebouterection and had audiences tickled withand finally Floyd Mayweather Jr, widelyhis improvement curvethereissimilar Vegas of Naturalability:Leonard,right,hasmoreinnatetalentthanMayweather Casefordefence:Barrera,left,wouldcopewithArmstrongsconstantpunches Hattons camp claims thattheLas theWalkmoreofStars, toamusement - that may sound a cheap trick,regarded as the pound-for-pound king ofis still rising.celebrated only it catchWalkhereis Rocky road to glory gives golden AmericantelevisiowhichnisnotratherFame.TheHollywood inter-thatyouhavetosplashout estedinWitter,$15,000(about7,600)forthe misses itisunlike-privilegeand ishardto lythattheJuanpointUrango,for whomimagineHattonpaying the Hatton theIBFcelebrated.for challengeswasbut it is Hatton being Hatton and peoplethe ring.Neither is there anyhonourofbeing a todoit As Flyingtheflag:asHattonapproachestheendofhiscareerhestillhasdreamsofmakinganimpactintheUnitedStates,startingwithtonightsworldtitlebout in greats edge over todays heroes titletonight, is nearthetophehassaid,hewants on any havemust28,his hisownway.People hisopponent, Urango, said.He earningshere about steppeduphispreparation ofMorua, unlikelylist. tobeacanown,spotfalseness mileoff, whoisbeing that Juanasaboxer hadbeenilladded that Maussaand Collisionpath 250,000,six willsevenbe times everydepartmentthat andhisthereim- softtouch.Maussa,Heholdsfromawinwhomhailed beforethatthebout or overliking the look of him.But first Urango, a 26-year-old based indoubt about the shapeheInsaid.LasVegas,itwouldseem, with style albeitwillascontribute thathebelieved is Ricky June5,2005TszyuRickyinHatton thesizeofhispreviousbiggest arestatistics curve show rising. RonLewis greats?Heretheishow threeBritishTurpin,boxersTerry today,whichNaturalislaughable Barreras Morales Carlos tooktotheashow, itsdefeat- couldbebeaten. payday, so you wonder provement isstill Hattonparty. whether gettingtothering ago,thebutWBAhastitlebeen14they recognise his genuinein edUrangohasnothadagreat whoYetisalthoughtheholderit of UrangoIBF beatsKostya 11 mightbejustmotivationenough. Neitherthe isthereUrangoanydoubt judgesscore bouts.our Randolph nonsense. sizeand boutswiththreeErikremarkable monthsappeal. A commentator the about shape isin. stopped isthreetimes.toHowever,All this could be unfairly dismissed as aMiami, from where he attempts to feed theUrango is in. When heThursdaysLasVegasReview- dealtosayaboutthat.Indeed, light-welterweightare titlebeltfor rounds Manchesterto out TheforcesthatdriveHatton Whenhetookoffhisshirtfor Theyalwayssaidthatthey Secondsout. Ali DownesandMickLeahy powerwouldbethekeyfora showedthathecancope Witter isto notabout gooutofJournal as while which he winIBFinlight-welterweight areinteresting,too. his thisweek shouldnevercomeback,but butin202boutshe win underpressure hiswaytotrytomakethingschoiceforhailed Chammypi- Hatton,daily28,onhasthebeenqualitiespro- has theyportrayedcompeting, title achievedthemajority Iofhavemy publicaworkoutbroadbackripplinghe noonetoldSylvesterStallone. NikolayValuev worldwelterweight wonandthe insidewhothedistancematchby possiblyoutboxandArmstrong.could exciting.ThemostimportantthePeohimples nouncing been aslittle revealed title Leonard, wouldon.TwicethisweekHatton heintendstoexhibit,Urango morethana Nov26Maussa goals,headmitted.come Hetermsalso with muscles. 139lb,Both1lb men Aremarkable31years vMuhammad themiddleweightcrownfive Mayweatherforspeedand VerdictBarreraonpoints thing win,Witter,32,said.steppingtrainer,stone. Hattoninknocksnine filmafter standandcharm offensive, although the fact remainssix children and their two mothers whomtook off his shirt for hishaspubliclyandusedhad theword haskepthiscounsel.Hehas BillyGraham,set Hattons dream Carlos 29, SheffieldforIBF appearsto is have isthe to fightI weighedinat night.HattonHell under theoriginalRocky has and Heavyweight 23st, sheer times.Heat atthe title cost forcehimtosomething tradehas Therealsuperfight IfImtowinningwin boxing,If a Imerection audiences haseven downa rounds withtheideathat the last take 17years Thetallest himhisshotexhaustion punches he happy boxing. thetickled cheaptrick,butthatit Ivegottomake retirement thensequence: first andWBAin titles Hatton, moment behind hishimgreatest limitshifting, chance said. dragged aftertheStallonefifth pugilist ErnieTerrell,manwhoAliwasfaced6ftwas6in, light-heavyweight (the neverbeencomfortabledoing. Acomputersuperfight opportunityoflanding bigmay withaamusement sureIdontletthe Urango, JosLuisEl March 2006 theWBA KostyaTszyu beremem- some awar.agood itll instalment Rocky so, wouldthebelikely referee before Verdict betweenthe took punch takeit. thatsound Theres his atof7ftValuevand hadretired Leonardstoppageby agesMarciano comes,oftenIllwashed-upfor collapsedon placeandthat he is an item of passing interest here,he left back home. Urango, one of eightpublic workout this weekisHattonbeingHattonand occasion a gettome TerribleCastillo,theMexican whohasgiven 1 up titleto thinkIllalways thatretire- take neithera boxerhas outofretirement in size causeAli speedofAliat Robinson amazing hisstool), middle-round Barrerav betweenRocky in1969.The 13 Itcannot WBA besaidpeoplelikingthelookofhim. whoalsoboxesheretonight, belt,vacatesIBF beredbyand Certainly, Balboa,which to but wouldbe MuhammadAli NikolayAll andfinallyFloyd avoidfacing ment ageof a backwards cinemasnationwideopens this althoughtheproblems, whilehisCalzaghe MarcoAntonio pairsparredfor75rounds, ticed, ValeuRevuhssaisangosntheiurdnndoethisascouldacharmbeoffensive,unfairly thankedGod lot,butother- Jr, widely regardedMayweatheras the Rabah,theNoNaoufel 30,onlymaytwocomeyearsataway.the recordUrangofortakingis known for weekend. hispeakwouldmakeValuev bigger, inholdinga HenryArmstrong withMarciano,whoretired fence buttheth heavyweightdismissed contenderBen step. achievement ofneither a heavyweight nor an Americanchildren, has been working to keep hishe revealed a broad backalthoughtheoffactpassingremainsinterestthat wisehehaslookeda onunper- pound-for-poundkingofthe May13Hatton Luis alsoAmentalitysuchathleteasthatwhosemay throwing but arcing body Theplottemptedoutof a lookterribly jaband would worldcannot morethannine Featherweight world wasa yearsearlier,losingfor50lbhis and title,againstJameelMcClineinheisanitem turbed,wearing widesmile ring. Collazonarrowlybeatsonpoints suggestan shots.Theyllwide,beheavywhen character hasStallones providemoreslowthanandamatch years titleforcompare. HomicideHank wearingatoupe role. Basle,here, heavyweight that self-beliefhas Urango,a26-year- towinWBAwelterweight drivingforce out theyland, do retirement readyto forValuevs strength. VerdictRobinsononpoints non-stoppunchingmachine They notbeenSwitzerland, thetonightAmericana been coming, tendsaid.to scenario beenused headlineshasnoranneither inasport not suggestsremotelyhis dented. oldButbasedfirst in Miami, from titleinBoston whichbrings isuspetering youHatton mumble time It whoheldthe filmedandeverywhenpossiblethefilm has drawing to.slidingdownwardsinpublic Whenpushed,hegivesan whereheattemptstofeedthe June30JuanUrangobeats wholeVegas backandtoHat-the seeThisthemisastepupforUrango virtual oneandmoreboutbetweenby Ali iswould powerthatto FloydMayweatherJr featherweighttitlebeforethe wasreleased,afterMarcianos heMcCline,36,standsat6ftthing reality doubtful,havehowever,theawareness,eveninitshome inklingofareason.Fourteen sixchildrenandtheirtwomoth- BenRabahinFloridaon tonsobsession puttingon toaleveltowhichHattonhas RockyinhisSeventiesprime stopthegiantRussian. vRayLeonard Second Warandwent deathin planecrash, 6in,6inmonthsago,Hattondefeated ers pointsforvacant a than becomeaccustomed.Sothe andthepresentworld VerdictAlionpoints Welterweight onto Worldthelightweightand computer adecidedthat thewas but tallershorterthanthanWladimirValuev,city.Ofcourse,tonightisthetime Carlos Maussa, another whomoneheoflefteightbackchildren,home. TelevisionTonight,IBFJuniortitle losing show.withRatherit,hesaid, challenger should win; the champion,MasonTheLine WhenMayweathermet hold titlesatthesame thewinnerinthe he Klitschko,theUkrainianwhoto realimpression Colombian, hasrecently Urango, keephis Witter goodinterestto sureIdont questionsconcernthequality Dixon,whichendswithawin JoeCalzaghe Leonardrecently,hetoldthe welterweight round.That thirteenth holdstheIBFtitleandwhomakeknowsa it.Nooneandis beenbriefingwhohiscountryman. hasbeen theagetoof12,when HattonvvArturoUrango,Morua,live,Sky Ivegotoccasionmakein gettome. ofthevictoryandwhetherhe fortheItalianStallion.But vRayRobinson greatestboxerofthe time.Heoverwhelmed madein computerwas stoppedMcClineintheAmer-Hatton familysinceworking letthegoing Maussa he job sand BoxOfficefrom10pm This said, canpersuadethecityheloves how topboxers Middleweight thathewouldnotmakeEightiesthe opponentsofwithpunchesafuriousbutwas whenheAlabama, ofAlithesaid icans previous world-titlepointed,tohegosaidhomeexceptdisap-for ingoutofsaidthisRickyworld,wasUrangonoth- hadthea localexcavating His desirethetoreasondazzle,thathe hehasis toreciprocate. wouldwithtodaysthegolden TheoriginalSugarRaylostto top-tenpound-for-poundlist notthatdifficulttohit. outcome. challengefouryearsago.onslaught wastoldfrom riverbed. perhaps compareWeigh-in, Le Cabaret Lounge, Paris Las Vegas, 1.49pm Friday 19th January 2007, hordes of Mancs in full songpage 45'