b'ROUND 1No potatoes for Richard, no prawn cocktail and no Christmas pudThe image of the lone athlete outthe people who pay your wages. Before hethe dividends to be reaped from some quieteverybody does. training on Christmas Day is not aleaves for Vegas, Hattons sparring sessionsinvestment over the festive period. Indeed,In both Mannings house and Hattons new one. Daley Thompson patented it,will draw groups of up to 100.you get the impression that a whole tribegym there hangs a large photograph of countless have since copied it and hereThere was a fleeting possibility thatround here is waiting to blow out big inthe pair sharing a sofa and a cup of tea, is the latest, hard at work four daysthey might see him spar against Jonboxings capital city. Local pubs are signingboth naked but for two more pairs of ago on the east side of Manchester:Thaxton, the British lightweight champion,up their own travelling bands.these large white pants. The two became Ricky Hatton, celebrating Christmaswho contacted Hatton personally andEveryone is ringing up my dad forfriends when Hatton began appearing on in the gym in preparation for hisoffered to help him to prepare. Six yearstickets, Hatton said. He says his carpetthe after-dinner speaking circuit. Manning forthcoming bout next month. As heago, Hatton beat Thaxton in 12 of thebusiness, which is his other job, is insays that Hattons act is becoming quite put it himself: The plan was to see mybloodiest, toughest rounds of his life - itmeltdown. For my mates to get the chanceaccomplished; he also says that he uses son open his Christmas presents andsays something about Hatton that Thaxtonto see my name up in lights in the LasHatton as the butt of his gags whenever he then come down to the gym and get myhas now offered to switch sides. The offerVegas strip - thatll be special. It will bringis in the same show. Rickys only little, head punched in.was politely declined, but Hattons gyma tear to my eye, too. It seems everyonehe said. I tell people: He should be in a Hatton likes his food, there is no secretnevertheless fills on a daily basis. The onlywants to say: I saw Ricky Hatton fight ingarden with a fishing-rod in his hands.in that. So, when he returned from therule is that, if you want anything signed,Vegas.But the point is that Hatton has an workplace, these were the rules for theyou wait until he has finished working.But not everyone can afford the trip andappeal that can straddle populations. From family Christmas dinner as laid down byOn some days, Hatton will bringit is important to Hatton that those leftManning to McCullough to Thaxton, then Carol, his mother and iron rod in his life:Campbell, his 5-year-old son, to the gymbehind are not forgotten. One of Hattonsadd in Jimmy White, Paul Ince, Ronnie No potatoes for Richard, no prawn cocktailwith him and, in between rounds, father willvery personal touches in his career hasOSullivan and a number of the cast of and no Christmas pud. Weightwatcherswrestle son on the canvas - in which case,been the traditional post-bout Shit ShirtCoronation Street who have all inquired calorie soup for starters and thenthe punters are seeing three sides of theParty and though the contest is in theabout the possibility of making the Vegas everything else: turkey, stuffing, veg. Butman: boxer, father and celebrity all in one.United States, the party is being postponedpilgrimage - along with 2,000 other ordinary no tatties, no Viennese whirl, no pudding,But Christmas Day was a little different,until his return and will be held in itsJoes. no trifle. And afterwards Richard will go onhis followers home with their families,traditional venue, the New Inn, the pubRicky and brother Matthew will be the his run. The good times are for Vegas andthe gym a workplace and nothing but. Thein Hattersley where he grew up when hisfirst to fly out, on Sunday week. Its going the cruise.abstinence, of course, will continue throughfather was landlord.to be weird these two leaving us, mother Ah yes, the Hattons like to celebrateNew Years Eve. His brother, Matthew,Besides the partys eponymous dressCarol said. But she, of course, will follow their considerable achievements with aalso a professional boxer, is on the Vegascode, the entertainment will be providedsoon after. family cruise, now an annual fixture thatundercard so he will be coming round toby Bernard Manning, another local boyHattons two grandmothers will not started seven years ago with just the four ofendure a quiet evening chez Ricky. And allwho has stayed true to his roots, a fact thatmake this trip, though they are sure to them. This February there will be 24 doingmy mates have said theyll come and standhas been the foundation of a most unlikelybe delivering their regular advice. Dont the Panama Canal for a fortnight. But firstoutside my front door at midnight and singfriendship. Ricky Hatton is the best thingforget to move your bloody head, is there is a bout to be won and a monastica Christmas carol, Ricky said.thats happened to Manchester for manyapparently the sum of it. Ricky Hatton existence to be endured before anyone canThe boys can all be miserablea long year, Manning said of his mate,soaks it up with a smile and moves on set sail.together, their father, Ray, said with aconducting this interview in his living roomwith the thousands. For his is a journey for The contest is in Las Vegas, on Januarysmile. He did so because he understands,wearing a pair of large white underpants.everyone to enjoy. 20, against Juan Urango, the champion fromas does everyone in this family, the scale ofFeet on the ground: I love the guy, I think Colombia, for the IBF light-welterweight title. A right-arm muscle twinge has74 Sport2WC THETIMESFridayDecember292006 ReadO oDust-upinthedesert w bewcaemneSalowt onrldthteitbleocyosnotledniedrer Dust-upinthedesertdelayed the start of Hattons sparring untiltimhoesonline.co.uk/sportMonday, but preparation was already aheadHatton ensures that the public Vegasgamblersof schedule. They are already planningStripteasersinLasVegasandthosethosewhowhomadedidntitfor a significant friendly face to meetgets just what the public wants 6Failures featherweight in inBarryMcGuiganLosthisWBA Cruztitle1986tolittle-knownina Steveover15roundsarenacarbuiltpark,inintheJuneinboutstagedanoutdoorthem in Vegas - Wayne McCullough, theCaesarsPalace theafternoon.inThethethemiddleoftemperaturehithe120Fhad(48C)lostto onringpoints,and,McGuiganafterNorthern Irish former light-welterweighttreatedinhospital had befordehydration.LloydHoneyghanand welterweight world champion, whoHoneyghanwontheworld toLaswelterweighttitleintheUS,AtlanticupsettingDonaldCurryinCityin1986,lessbuthisonetriplives in Vegas and has offered Hatton hisVegaswas to successfulashe aninth-roundstoppageatCaesarsonlosthistitle MarlonStarlingPalacein1989.private gym as a training base. That is oneFrankBruno inLasVegas,atboththeBoxedtwicetimesagainstMikeTyson,supporter waiting for him, though there willPeoplesmantells Hiltonin1989and was theMGMboth.Grandin1996,andatlostthemThefirsttimehe challengingOwenSlotaboutthe fortheundisputedworldbe many more to follow. Ticket demandsspecialrelationship heavyweight thesecondtitle.timehewasdefendingtitle, hisWBCwithhisfans,2,000 NaseemHamedafrom his travelling army are well in excessofwhomwillbewith In2001,GrandafterthatringentranceattheMGM involvedhiminLasVegas fireworks, thelightingandloudbeingmusic,carriedspectaculartoof 2,000.PhotographsMarcAspland out ringonamotorisedseat Hamedsuspendedfromacatwalk,Theimageoftheloneathlete foundMarcoAntonioBarreratraining isnota spentmoretimeconcentratingonone.onDaleyChristmasThompsonDayHattons thrilling, brawling style goesnew isthe havesince at patented boxingthanbeing 12 celebrity.Heit,countless copieditand knockedtheformera undefeatedhere latest,hard workfour worldfeatherweightchampionallsideofManches- roundtheringfor rounds.daysagoontheeastcelebratingsome distance to explaining this masster: it intheHatton, preparation Christ- 6SuccessesmasRicky gym forhisforthcomingboutin nextmonth.Ashe AlanMinterBritishboxerintoLaswinVegasamy Thefirstchampionshipput himself:his The to planwastoseeandget whenmigration. A visit to his gym in Dentonsonopen Christmaspresents isno world hebeatVitoAntuofermoonthencomedown thegymandmyHatton punched there pointsworlddecisionmiddleweightforthehead asplitlikeshisin.food, undisputedgoes the rest of the way.secretinthat.So,whenthesehereturnedthe titleatCaesarsPalacein1980.fromtheworkplace, wererulesforthefamilyChristmasdinner LennoxLewisaslaidroddownin byCarol, motherand BoxedsixtimesinLasVegasbeingandNohispotatoesAs he works out, around the ring thereiron soup no hislife: cocktailand for wonthemall.Afterinitially in title,Richard, prawn no givenhisWBChisheavyweightChristmaspud.Weightwatcherscalo- Lewismade firstdefencerie else:forturkey,startersstuffing,andthenevery-no Tonyregained 1993,against Tuckerthetheregathers a disparate band of followers, manything noViennese good veg.But for thentwice Bayin titletheretatties, his And The whirl,Richard at againstin OliverandMcCall,HasimatRahman,His thenotrifle. afterwards nopudding,will Hilton 1997,go run. timesare theMandalay 2001.Vegasonyoung men, watching his every punch as ifa Ah andthetheHattonscruise.liketocelebrate finestmomentcamein1999, WBC,yes, though,whenheunifiedthetheir achievementsfixturewith WBAandIBFtitlesatbythebeatingThomas&familyconsiderable annualcruise,sevennowyearsan EvanderCentre.Holyfieldentranced. The point is that Hatton leavesthatstartedofthem.This ago a withjust Soakinguptheatmosphere:whilehisfriendsenjoytheexcessesofthefestiveperiod,HattonstimehasfocusedonhisgympreparationforLasVegas Mack RonLewis Bagsofconfidence:Hattongoestoworkbeforebeingjoinedbyson,Campbell.Postersremindofpastgloriesandthereisevensomefestiveunwrappingthefour Februarytherewillfortnight.But thePanamaCanal Words:be24doing boutfortoa firstthereishis door open and welcomes the crowd;bewonandamonasticexistencetobe therewillbemanyfrommorehis tofollow. theyareBefore peoplewhopayVegas,your hislifeitsayssomethingabout andnothingbut.Theabstinence, also impressionthattoablowwholeouttribebiginround esinhiscareerS***hasbeen intheUnited anotherlocalaboyfactwhothathashasstayedbeentruethe beganappearingontheafter-dinner pilgrimagealongwith2,000otherenduredbeforeanyonecanVegas, Ticketdemands travelling wages. heleavesfor HattonthatThaxtonhasnowoffered course,willcontinuethroughNewof hereis box- alpost-bout ShirtthePartytradition-and tohisroots, speakingcircuit.Manningsaysthat ordinaryJoes.ThecontestisinLas setsail.on theJanuary20,againstJuanUrango,the armyarewellinexcessof2,000. Hattonssparringsessionswilldraw toswitch The YearsEve. Matthew, ings waitingcity.Localpubsaresign- thoughthecontestis foundationofamostunlikelyfriend- Hattonsactisbecomingquiteaccom- RickyandbrotherMatthewwillbelight-welterweighttitle.Aforright-arm goessomedistance explainingstylethis Thereofwasup a lessfills offergymwasneverthe-politely undercard brother,is cominground capital ringing untilhisreturn held thatshappened Hattonas his Its tobeweird two100. sides.Hattons Hisboxer,this is extremely unusual among boxers,championfromColombia, the theIBF Hattonsthrilling,to of brawling gymin groups tofleetingpossibilitythat declined, onbutadaily finished onlyrule aprofessional hewillbe ontheVegas inguptheirowntravellingbands. States,thepartyisbeingpostponed ship.RickyHattonisthebestthing plished; is he in alsosaysthatheuses thefirsttoflyout,onSundayweek.muscletwingehasdelayed startof massmigration.Avisittohis theymightseehimsparagainstJon isthat,ifyouwantbasis.anythingThe signed, toendurea soquieteveningchezRicky. EveryoneHattonis said.Heupsaysmydadcar-for traditionalvenue,andthewillNewbe Inn,intheits manyalongyear,toManchestersaidforof everhe thethebuttsameof show.gagsRickyswhen- goingus,motherCarolthesesaid.Buttickets, his Manning leavingHattons untilMonday,but Dentongoestherest theway. he working. Andallmy petbusiness,which hisotherjob,theis conductingwearingthisa interview inheagardenI withpeople:afishing-He she,Hattons soonwillafter.notpreparationsparringwas untildays,4-year-old standmatesoutsidehavemysaidfronttheylldoor myismates hismate, largein onlylittle, said. tell ofcourse,twowillgrandmothersfollowplanningof theregathers disparate be24ofthemdoing youOnwaitsomehis hasHattonson,willtobringthe atmidnight Hattonsaid. chancetoseemy lights anappealthatcan white underpants. Feet on every- rodinhis bedelivering advice.but Hatton insists on it. Your fans shouldschedule.Theyare alreadyahead his Asheworksa out, if aroundbandtheofringfol- ThisFebruarytherewill Campbell, himand,inbetweenrounds, comeand andsingaChristmas inmeltdown.For nameupin toget in ThepointisHattonhas hisliving I room theguy,I pairof the shouldbe hands. isthatHattonhasan makethistrip,thoughtheyaresuretoforasignificantfriendlyalreadyfacetomeet lowers,manyyoungmen,watching gymwith carol,Ricky theLasVegas bespe- ground: love think ButthetheminVegasWayneMcCul- everypunchas entranced.The thePanamaCanal fatherwill Theboys miserable cial.Itwillbringstripa tothatllmyeye,too. straddlepopulations bodydoes. appealthatpointcanstraddlepopulations. Dontforget theirmoveregularyourbloodywhichwrestlecase,sontheonpuntersthecanvasare theircanfather,allRay,be tear toget the chance to see and know you, helough, the Northern Irish former pointisthatHattontheleavescrowd;histhisdooris Thaxton,theBritishlHatton htcham- in threecelebrity ofallthein man:boxer, together, didsobecausein saidwitha ItseemsHattoneveryonefightwantsin tosay:Isaw pubinHattersleywherehegrewup InbothMannings largeandphoto-Hat- FromManning addto inMcCullough a head,isapparently it thesuma ofit.hangshousea Thaxton,then JimmyWhite,to RickyHattonsoaks upwith smilelight-welterweightwhoandliveswelterweightinVegas openandwelcomes amongboxers,but pion,whocontacted ightweigpersonal- seeing and sides one. smile.He doeseveryone heunder- Ricky noteveryone Vegas. thetrip whenhisfatherwaslandlord. tonsgymthere sharingasofaanda PaulInce,RonnieOSullivanand andmovesonwiththethousands.Forworldhaschampion,offeredtrainingHattonbase. hisprivate extremelyunusual fans lyand tohelphimtoprepare.in father ChristmasDaywas little stands,as thedividends thisfamily, But itleftisimportant canafford Besidescode,thethe partys graphofthepair but two numberofthecastofCoronation hisisajourneyforeveryonetoenjoy.and Hattoninsists But thescale and cupchanceontoit.seeYourandknowshouldyou, yearsofferedago, homea someof investmenttobeoverreapedthe aretonotHattonforgotten.that entertainmenteponymouswill ofpairstea,ofboththesenakedlargewhiteforpants.said. They are proud of you and they aregymasa waitingfor Thatisone getthe Theyareproudofyouand Six ofthe HattonbeatThaxton of different,hisfollowers a with from quiet Indeed,yougetthe those of behind verypersonaltouch- dress byBernardManning, more twobecamefriendswhenHatton Streetwhohaveallinquiredaboutthe Nextweek:LeavingforLasVegassupporter him,though hesaid. 12 bloodiest,toughestrounds theirfamilies,thegym workplace festiveperiod. One Hattons beprovided The possibility of making the VegasRay and Carols house, Betta Bodies gym, Bernard Mannings front room, Wednesday 20th December 2006page 9'