Life in The Phoenix – Hatton to Hatton I by Terry Dooley Jun 21st 2007

After two middling performances against Luis Collazo and Juan Urango respectively Ricky Hatton finds himself heading into his Las Vegas showdown with Jose Luis Castillo under a cloud of criticism and/or fan apathy. Post-Kostya Tszyu Hatton was able to bask in the glow of public acclaim that his display, plus his approachable demeanour, brought him. Billy Graham recently appeared in the TV show ‘Life on Mars' playing a heavy yet in reality Billy is closer in nature to the shows driving force DCI Gene Hunt. Ricky is similar to his trainer in many ways yet he is altogether more willing to play the media game. Hatton uses the same salty language as Billy yet he also picks his words carefully once the tape rolls. When you ask him a routine question you sense he reels out a routine answer that can provide some generic response. Like DCI Sam Tyler in the show Hatton is willing to play by the rules of the day, maybe, like Tyler, deep-down he has a Gene Hunt chomping to get out but so far Ricky has played the game perfectly. It all built-up to the Tszyu fight where, win or lose, he would hold a place in the affections of UK boxing fans. However since that night the criticism against Hatton has been building steadily like a tumour gathering its strength and pushing all that is positive aside. No disrespect to either man but when names like Cotto and Mayweather are thrown into the air only for Collazo and Urango to set foot in the ring then criticism is going to find you. Ricky's display against Tszyu is being rewritten as a triumph over an aging fighter and Hatton's approachable demeanour means he is being singled out as a publicity-loving fighter who may have just fallen into the success trap. This semi-reversal of fortune can only be turned around in the boxing ring, specifically with a big win this Saturday. In lieu of the fight the only other indication of his continuing drive and talent can be found by watching the fighter work himself into shape for the fight with Castillo. A glittering guest list of A-List footballers, actors and other celebrities from both sides of the pond are scheduled to attend the fight – Mr Cool John Travolta is said to be attending. Hatton is going to be escorted into the ring by Marco Antonio Barrera and, depending on what you read, Wayne Rooney or, from genius to gurning banality, Robbie Williams. Signs, perhaps, that the ultimate anti-celebrity is embracing the world of glitz and glamour. It could be construed that Hatton is even betraying his loyal Manchester City fan base by asking Rooney to carry his belt. It could also be said that this gesture shows a hint that Hatton is still the down to Earth guy he has been portrayed as, a Jack the Lad who is enjoying a private joke by getting Rooney to carry his belt into the ring as they play ‘Blue Moon'. Worries about Hatton's mental outlook for this fight were best dispelled on one of his first days of training for the fight. Hatton had recently attended the star-studded bash of Rooney's girlfriend Colleen McLoughlin and was chatting about it whilst getting ready for his session. His brother, and best friend, Matthew Hatton sauntered over and asked Ricky if his (Matt's) invitation to the bash got lost in the post. The two brothers bantered a little about Ricky's new celebrity life before getting on with their training. Prior to beginning his work Hatton asked his conditioner Kerry Kayes if he could do extra conditioning work that day. This dispelled the notion that Hatton's fire has waned; although maybe his talent has over time, Saturday will tell. As Hatton explained there was a single reason for his desire to be razor-sharp for this fight, Jose Luis Castillo. Ricky Hatton: ‘I'm very excited about it because I'm going in against someone who is a top ten pound for pound fighter, a bit like Kostya Tszyu really. Castillo is a legend who has had some good fights over the years.' ‘In the last three fights I was the favourite to win so those fights were a little bit less hard. You train as hard as you usually would but there is a little less pressure because you are expected to win. Castillo is such a big name I'm feeling the way I did before the Kostya Tszyu fight.' BBN: So the smaller your chances of winning the harder you feel you can fight? RH: ‘‘Yeah it is a fifty-fifty fight and if you fight a dangerous fighter like that it makes you feel the way I did before the Kostya Tszyu fight.' BBN: It is a decent match-up yet is unusual in that both of you have come in for criticism after your semi-final bouts – Castillo in particular. RH: ‘Castillo had twelve to fifteen months out and was fighting a guy he had never heard off and it is very, very hard for someone like Castillo – who has been in so many big fights – to get up for someone who is a little bit unheard off.' ‘A little bit like me and Urango who was unheard of as well and people thought I was going to walk it. I trained as hard as ever and got in as good shape as ever but I was expected to win. I'm not expected to beat Castillo so you have that little bit more fear about you.' BBN: Do you understand the frustrations people have felt since the Kostya Tszyu fight? RH: ‘Kostya Tszyu was a modern day legend and what people don't realise is that you can't fight those guys in every fight. I have beaten three world-title holders since…I am a bit disappointed when people give me knock-backs for that but you can't fight a legend in every fight.' BBN: What about claims that Castillo is a fading force and a win over this version of him would be empty? RH: ‘He is still a top fighter with a great style. Anyone who is not a fan of Castillo's style can't really be a boxing fan. He fought that war with Corrales. He has gone the distance twice with Mayweather in close fights – well the second time was a little bit wider. Any win against Castillo would be fantastic.' ‘He is a strong fighter and a hard puncher but I don't think he has one department that is better than the other. We are both good body-punchers but I don't think he has got the footwork that I've got but I've got to make it show in order to prove that.' BBN: Castillo is a Mexican legend and many Mexicans have appreciated your style in the past, could this fight open a new fan base up to you? RH: ‘They were fantastic with me in Las Vegas when I went back over there (for Barrera-Marquez) and I think all the fight fans really liked me because I wasn't with a bodyguard being escorted to my seat I was with the fans and having a laugh with them all.' BBN: Did you get any stick about the match-up from the Mexicans at the fight? RH: ‘Mexican fans were all queuing up for my picture and autograph then after they got them the cheeky bastards were all chanting ‘Castillo! Castillo!'. I think they know I'm friends with Barrera so if I beat Castillo it could get me a fan base in Mexico.' BBN: A lot of criticism has centred on your lifestyle and the effects it could have on your longevity, are you starting to wind down at this point? RH: ‘I am at my peak now and (I) don't expect people to believe me when I say it because in my last few performances I think the results have been better than the performances.' ‘Urango was short and boxed tucked-in and I don't think I've ever fought an opponent who threw as few punches since I fought Eamon Magee. Magee just sat in the corner waiting for me to come in (and) Urango made Magee look like a fucking work-horse.' ‘It is very hard when someone is so tucked-in like that and it can be really hard to catch them. He was not the best opponent to look good against. I think my achievements have been better than my performances (since Tszyu).' BBN: So you think you can still cut the mustard as a top-level fighter? RH: ‘Yes. I don't expect people to think this but I am still improving. I know I have improved and I know I can do better. I lost my way a little bit before the Tszyu fight and went off the boil going twelve rounds with Vilches…at that point you wouldn't pick me to beat Tszyu but when the big challenge comes you find that little bit extra and I am sure I will rise to the occasion against Castillo.' BBN: Is that a slight suggestion that you may not have prepared to the best of your abilities when getting ready to fight Urango? RH: ‘You treat every fight the same and give every fight the best but to be honest when you get a name like Castillo you find that little bit extra. I think I'll find that little bit extra for Castillo. If you're a big favourite you do go into a fight with that in the back of your mind and when it is a fifty-fifty fight you are a bit more nervous and it gives you a bit extra.' BBN: Is the Tszyu fight a high-water mark that can never be repeated unless you fight the likes of Mayweather or Cotto? RH: ‘Kostya was number one or two pound for pound at the time I beat him and to beat a guy like that puts you up with your heroes, fights like Curry-Honeyghan and Stracey-Napoles. At one point you wanted to beat the best fighters in the world and now to fight the best pound for pound fighters is a big achievement and although I turned pro as a prospect I don't think anyone would have thought I would be taking on these pound for pound fighters.' ‘As far as talent and ability goes I think Mayweather is up there with the best there has ever been and would love to fight him as well.' BBN: In you last two fights a definite pattern has emerged, you slowed down as the fights progressed and against Collazo in particular you endured a torrid last round. Surprisingly you also faded against Urango. Is that a warning sign? RH: ‘People think – after my last two performances – that I'm slowing down but there were reasons for those fights. I had my reasons but I am only going to put the (the fights) behind me by producing in the ring for this fight.' BBN: As a fighter you cannot stand fighters making excuses for a bout yet your reasons for the fades could be seen as excuse-making. Especially when you say you had a cold going into the Urango fight. RH: ‘Anyone will tell you that if you go to Vegas and stay in the Casinos you get this bunged-up feeling and I never mentioned it right after the fight but anyone who was with me the week before the fight could see it. I even refused to see people which is rare for me.' ‘Come the fight the nose had cleared up but obviously the cold was still there a bit. There are reasons for the performances but if you accept the fight beforehand there is no point crying about it straight after. This time we have rented an apartment off the strip so I can get more fresh air. We learned from the first time.' BBN: Given the ease with which you won the early rounds do you hope people can look past the later-rounds spoiling? RH: ‘I was winning the Urango fight easily with some of the best work I've ever done. I was pot-shotting him, digging and moving and it was only when I back to the stool after the seventh round that I started bringing up big green gilberts.' ‘The only reason I couldn't keep it up was because of the cold and Billy was saying in the corner ‘listen you knew this could happen don't be a hero and keep it smart'…he was telling me to get through a fight I was pissing basically but they didn't know what Billy knew. Tactically Billy does a lot of work.' BBN: You have some impressive star support for this fight, is this Barrera/Hatton belt-carrying thing now a tradition? RH: ‘Barrera said he was coming to the fight and as I've walked him out several times I asked if he would walk me out…I told him I would understand if he did not want to with him being a Mexican and he said ‘you are my friend and I will carry your belt' and I was dead chuffed. Wayne Rooney is bringing the other one in.' BBN: A red legend in the making carrying the belt for a blue, how did that come about? RH: ‘‘Wayne said he was coming over for the fight as he is a big boxing fan so as soon as I knew he was coming I asked if he would like the chance to carry a boxing belt into the ring and he said ‘yes'.' ‘I'm a City fan and a Manc getting his belt carried in by a United player who is a Scouser is a bit weird but I am a big fan of Wayne Rooney - even though he plays for the wrong team - and I'm a big fan of Barrera even though he is a Mexican (like Castillo). Having two people like that in my corner will spur me on in the biggest fight of my career.' BBN: In many ways you reached the top of the mountain with Tszyu, could it be that the pressure is off, boxing-wise, for good? Can you get right back up to that level of intensity? RH: ‘I'm not saying the pressure is off because I'm still hungry for more success…in the last three fights I've done well financially and it has given me nice things. I'm fortunate that with what I've done in boxing (my son) Campbell can have a comfortable life.' ‘I still think that the way I'm performing in the gym I'd be fool to retire with what I've got because there is more. These fights on my horizon are what I suppose will financially secure me for the rest of my life and my sons life. That is why each fight becomes more and more important for me.' It had been a relatively quiet time in The Phoenix that first week. Hatton and Graham were beginning to crank their big-fight preparations into gear. By BBN's next visit the Hatton machine was motoring along. The sparring situation had begun to take shape although initially the choice of sparring partner may have surprised some. Photos By Allan Stevenson

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