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This way up.
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 16,568
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by R3flex
This should be a Hatton USA coming out party type thing, but if Castillo turns back the clock, it could get crazy.
Castillo look horrible in his last fight, and should've lost, but got the nod only to set this thing up. Like I said though, Castillo can pull it out, so hopefully Hatton doesn't underestimate him (or hopefully he does, depending on who you're rooting for.)
Either way, anybody else read that article about Hatton break a punch measurement machine?
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I never heard that, you have a link?
Final presser:
Quote:
Thursday’s final press conference for Hatton-Castillo took on a high touch of class and not just because of the setting at the Five Star/Five Diamond Wynn Las Vegas casino resort. The British tandem of IBO light welterweight world champion Ricky Hatton (42-0, 30 KOs) and Promoter Dennis Hobson dedicated Saturday’s championship bout against two-time WBC lightweight champion José Luis Castillo (55-7-1, 47 KOs) to the memory of the late great Diego Corrales. Demonstrating a high touch of class not normally associated with the hard sport of boxing, Hatton and Hobson presented Corrales’ pregnant wife, Michelle Corrales, with a bouquet of flowers.
Mrs. Corrales addressed the media saying that her late husband had much respect for Castillo and was looking forward to working with Hatton before his untimely passing. Corrales was involved in a fatal motorcycle accident on May 7th of this year exactly two years to the date after he participated in his epic lightweight championship battle against Castillo considered to be one of the greatest fights of all-time.
Hatton’s co-Promoter Art Pelullo also showed class when he took on the press for insinuating in recent publications that the challenger Castillo is washed-up. Pelullo exhorted the media to honor Castillo’s current place as one of boxing’s best: “He is a great fighter at the prime of his life.” Much of the recent criticism regarding Castillo’s current status as an elite fighter stems from his lackluster performance on January 20, 2007 when he won a narrow split decision victory against Herman Ngoudjo. After his stirring fourth round knockout victory over Corrales in their October 8, 2005 rematch, the public had come to expect more of Castillo. Nonetheless, Castillo eked out the victory over Ngoudjo to set-up Saturday’s big fight against Hatton, and for Pelullo- enough said!
The champion Hatton hails from Manchester, England a city popular for its world-class soccer and its hard-core sports fans. As many as 10,000 of these die-hard fans are reported to be making their way across the pond and to the Las Vegas desert to cheer on their man Hatton. One of the most celebrated of Hatton’s supporters is the Manchester United soccer star Wayne Rooney, who will be carrying Hatton’s title belt into the ring. Hatton’s popularity is not restricted to England. Mexico’s superstar boxing sensation Marco Antonio Barrera will also be accompanying Hatton to the ring on Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Castillo Promoter Bob Arum remarked that Rooney is a hero and both Rooney’s and Barrera’s presence in Hatton’s corner is testament to Hatton’s popularity as a boxer. Arum continued to say that if boxing is going to survive and thrive, the sport needs “fights between fighters that fight not dancers that dance!” Arum’s comments were in no doubt a criticism of the recent May 5th mega-bout between Oscar de la Hoya and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in which the action was heavy on the dancing and light on the fighting. Arum used to be the promoter of record for both De la Hoya and Mayweather. Arum concluded his comments by emphasizing that the sport of boxing is going to get what the sport needs on Saturday night- a fight between two fighters that fight!
In a touching moment, Castillo took the podium to offer his condolences to Mrs. Corrales. Castillo said of the passing of Corrales, “it was a real tragedy. I was very, very sad when I heard the news.”
The challenger Castillo spoke briefly about the fight Saturday night only to say that he is very well prepared both physically and mentally. “I am very strong. It is going to be a sensational fight.”
Next at the podium was the defending champion. “We want to thank the important people- the fans,” emphasized Hatton. Hatton went on to thank the English fans, the American fans, and the Mexican fans. Hatton brought home the feeling that his fight against Castillo is precisely what the sport of boxing needs today when he declared: “The only winner on Saturday night will be boxing!” Hatton acknowledged that he is a fan of José Luis Castillo and that he has been excited about this fight from the minute it was announced. Speaking to the 10,000 loyal Brits expected to attend his fight, Hatton pronounced, “Believe me Saturday I will not let you down!” Hatton assured the public that the fight will live up to the hype. “I can’t see anybody falling asleep on Saturday night.”
If the fight does live up to the hype as the fighters and their promoters are claiming, we may be witnessing another all-time classic war come Saturday night. Castillo has already been in one of the greatest fights ever when he took on Corrales in their first duel. Can Hatton and Castillo match that type of non-stop, back-and-forth action … not to mention the bout’s dramatic ending? Whether or not Hatton-Castillo will go down in the record books as an all-time great fight, we have been promised guaranteed fireworks for this duel, which has been simply and profoundly dubbed “Gladiators.” For a bout between two fighters that refuse to take a step backward “Gladiators” is no doubt an appropriate title for Saturday’s showdown!
The co-feature bout on Saturday night’s card will be a twelve round IBF International welterweight title fight between Matthew Hatton (30-3-1, 12 KOs) and Edwin Vazquez (22-9-2, 8 KOs). Matthew Hatton, the younger brother of Ricky Hatton, will be making his first defense of the IBF International 147 pound crown that he won on January 20, 2007 in Las Vegas against Frank Houghtaling. Also on Saturday night’s card will be a ten round super middleweight bout between Antwun Echols (31-6-3, 27 KOs) and Fulgencio Zuniga (18-2-1, 16 KOs).
Promoted by Banner Promotions and Fight Academy, in association with Caesars Palace and Wynn Las Vegas, the 12-round Hatton-Castillo rumble will be broadcast live on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 10PM ET / 7PM PT. Remaining tickets, priced at $600, $400, $200, $100, and $50, can be purchased at the Thomas & Mack box office, The Galleria at Sunset and all Station Casinos and Fiestas. To charge by phone, call (702) 739-3267 or (866) 388-3267, To purchase online, click here. For the latest information on Hatton vs. Castillo, go to the official website:
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