30.11.06 – Ring Magazine’s Light Welterweight Champion Ricky Hatton is relishing his return to the 140-lb division after a brief foray into the deeper waters at welterweight. “The Hitman” is set to face fellow unbeaten Juan Urango at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas on January 20, 2007, for the Colombian’s IBF title.
“Urango has a big punch, he’s very muscular and very strong,” said Hatton. “In his last fight he had to go looking for his opponent, but I don’t think that’s going to a problem when we get in the ring. I’ve got the bit between my teeth now and going to Las Vegas is a step in the right direction.”
The Manchester Whirlwind has dreamed of fighting in Sin City from a young age but that ambition was nearly derailed during a life or death struggle against Luis Collazo for the WBA Welter title that Hatton won by the narrowest of margins, six months ago in Boston..
“I don’t think I’ve lost anything,” declared the confident 28-year-old. “I’ve still got the popularity and I’m getting a superfight with Jose Luis Castillo if both he and I come through our bouts in January. Getting a superfight, that’s all I need, and I think against Castillo, it’ll be forehead on forehead.”
The announcement of Urango as Hatton’s next opponent ended months of speculation that the stocky Mancunian could face Floyd Mayweather, Jr., or Oscar De La Hoya, two multi-weight world champions who ironically have since signed a contract to fight each other.
“I think De La Hoya will beat Mayweather and I don’t think Mayweather will retire,” said Hatton, referring to the American’s pledge to call it quits after one more fight. “He wants to be remembered as an all time great and its hard to criticize Floyd with what he’s done, but you can’t be an all time great having fought people like Baldomir.
“All of Mayweather’s fights are the same and they’re not exactly spectacles, not edge of your seat stuff. They carried him into to the Baldomir fight dressed like Russell Crowe, a warrior, but he ended up fighting more like Sheryl Crowe. He has great skill but he doesn’t have you on the edge of your seat.”