Boxing News Boxing News
British welterweight star Matthew Hatton and junior featherweight contender Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista will be pushed to the limit in pivotal bouts on the off-television undercard of Saturday night’s showdown between Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton and Paul “Magic Man” Malignaggi at the MGM Grand Garden Arena
in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Matthew Hatton, 34-4-1 (13), will warm up British fans in attendance for his brother Ricky when he takes on perennial contender Ben Tackie, 29-10-1 (17), in a 10 round welterweight bout while 22-year-old Bautista, 26-1 (19), will square off against former world title challenger Heriberto Ruiz, 39-7-2 (23), in a 10 round junior welterweight bout.
Also stepping between the ropes on November 22 will be up and coming prospects Danny Garcia, Hylon Williams, Adrien Broner and Adrian Gonzalez. An eight round welterweight battle between undefeated Sirimongkol Singwancha and veteran Rogelio Castaneda will also be part of the show.
Although he is the little brother of one of boxing biggest stars, Matthew Hatton is well on his way to carving out his own niche in the crowded welterweight division.
A proud native of Manchester, the 27-year-old has won six of his last seven bouts including his last bout, a solid victory over Scott Woolford in September of this year. Hatton faces Accra, Ghana’s Ben “Wonder” Tackie who is no stranger to the Hatton family, having fought Ricky in 2003.
Although this unyielding warrior has had his share of bad luck in the ring over the last two years, he is confident that the string will end and a winning streak will begin against the younger Hatton on November 22.
Tagbilaran’s Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista is already a star in the Philippines, but the highly-motivated youngster wants to achieve the same status around the world as his countryman Manny Pacquiao and knows the only way to do that is to win a championship.
After falling short in his first world title shot against Daniel Ponce De Leon, Bautista has roared back with three straight wins. In Heriberto “Cuate” Ruiz Bautista will be facing a rugged warrior who has been in with the best in the world over the last 14 years.
Winner of four of his last five bouts, the 31-year-old from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico is ready for a battle with “Boom Boom.”
Former World Super Featherweight Champion Sirimongkol Singwancha (59-2, 34 KO’s) of Thailand will return to fight in the United States for the first time in over three years when he puts his 16 fight winning streak on the line in a welterweight eight rounder against the always dangerous Rogelio Castañeda Jr. (24-14-3, 8 KO’s) of Tijuana, Mexico.
Already 6-0 in 2008 and 8-0 with 7 KO’s overall, Philadelphia’s Danny Garcia will look to keep the momentum going in his busy year when he faces El Paso, Texas’ Adan Hernandez (14-5, 5 KOs) in a junior welterweight six rounder.
Also competing in six rounders will be lightweight Hylon Williams (5-0 1 KO) of Houston, Texas, against Carson, California’s Ramon Flores (2-3-1, 2 KO’s) and hard-hitting Cincinnati lightweight prospect Adrien Broner (3-0, 3 KO’s) making his debut under the Golden Boy Promotions banner against tough veteran Terrance Jett of Las Vegas.
In the opening bout, junior featherweight Adrian Gonzalez will get a chance to perform in front of his hometown fans in his pro debut when he battles an opponent to be determined in a four round contest.
The night’s main event, Ricky Hatton vs. Paulie Malignaggi, is a scheduled 12-round battle for Hatton’s Ring Magazine and IBO Junior Welterweight titles, presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Punch Promotions and DiBella Entertainment and sponsored by Affliction Clothing and Cerveza Tecate.
In the co-feature James Kirkland vs. Brian Vera, a 10 round middleweight bout, is presented in association with Tournament of Contenders. Both bouts will air live on HBO’s World Championship Boxing broadcast beginning at 7:00pm PT/10:00pm ET. Doors open at 3:00 pm PT with the first bell ringing at approximately 3:15pm PT.
Tickets priced at $1,000, $750, $500, $300 and $150 are still available at any MGM Grand box office outlet and at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets also are available for purchase atwww.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
For room packages and availability and event information at MGM Grand, call (800) 929-1111 or (702) 891-7777 or log onto the World Wide Web at www.mgmgrand.com.
