Hatton-Phillips on Showtime Next Saturday

30.03 - Ricky "Hitman" Hatton makes his 2003 debut and ninth defense of his World Boxing Union (WBU) junior welterweight title when he faces former International Boxing Federation (IBF) 140-pound titleholder "Cool" Vince Phillips on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, Saturday, April 5, at 11 p.m. ET/PT*. In the co-feature, European Union (EU) 140-Pound Champion Jurgen Haeck will defend his title for the first time when he takes on British Commonwealth Champion and current WBO No. 1 contender, Junior Witter. Frank Warren's Sports Network will promote the matches from MEN Arena in Manchester, England.

Hatton (31-0, 24 KOs), of Manchester, currently is ranked No. 2 in the World Boxing Council (WBC) and No. 3 in the World Boxing Association (WBA). He captured the WBU crown by scoring a fourth-round knockout over Tony Pep on March 26, 2001. The popular youngster successfully defended his WBU four times each in both 2001 and 2002. Hatton, who is appearing on SHOWTIME for the fourth time, will make his first start since knocking out Joe Hutchison in the fourth round on Dec. 14, 2002. In his last SHOWTIME outing, Hatton won by second-round disqualification over Stephen Smith on Sept. 28, 2002, in Manchester. A former WBO Intercontinental and British champion, Hatton hopes a victory over Phillips, the only fighter to defeat Kostya Tszyu, will bring him closer to securing a shot at the undisputed 140-pound champion.

Phillips (44-7-1, 32 KOs), of Pensacola, Fla., made three defenses of the IBF title he won on May 31, 1997, with a 10th-round TKO over Tszyu. The Florida native then held the belt for 20 months before losing by fifth-round TKO to Terronn Millett on Feb. 20, 1999, in New York. In his last start on Nov. 9, 2002, Phillips lost the battle of former world champions when he dropped a 10-round majority decision to ex-WBA kingpin, Sharmba Mitchell, on SHOWTIME from Oklahoma City. The 1985-86 All-Army champion went 90-10 in the amateurs, and won the 1985 National Golden Gloves title prior to turning pro on Feb. 28, 1989. In his 2002 debut, the well-conditioned 14-year veteran registered a 10-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Nick Acevedo on March 29 in Las Vegas, Nev.

Haeck (15-1, 5 KOs), of Belgium, captured the vacant EU 140-pound crown in his last bout by scoring a second-round knockout over Christophe Carlier on June 28, 2002, in Vannes, France. One month prior to the bout on May 20, 2002, Haeck earned the Belgian lightweight championship with a 10-round decision over Mourad Fantazi in Roselaere, Belgium. Currently riding a three-fight winning streak, Haeck won his first 12 bouts before losing his 2002 debut to Suleiman M'Baye in a bout for the EU 140-pound title.

Witter (25-1-2, 14 KOs), of Bradford, England, has won 10 consecutive bouts by knockout since suffering his lone defeat at the hands of then-IBF 140-pound champion Zab Judah June 24, 2000, on SHOWTIME. During a winning streak in which no bout has gone past five rounds, Witter has captured the Commonwealth, British and WBU International junior welterweight titles.

For information on upcoming SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, including complete fighter bios and records, please go the SHOWTIME website at http://www.sho.com/boxing .

*Tape Delayed East and West Coast