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Ricky Hatton – Manchester, England’s walking weapon of mass destruction – will be ably supported by some of the hottest young sharpshooters in British boxing when he challenges Juan Urango for the IBF and IBO junior welterweight titles in Las Vegas Saturday night.
Not only will the Hitman’s younger brother, “Magic’ Matthew, step up to 12 round class at the Paris Hotel extravaganza but undefeated hotshots Nikki Smedley and John Ibbotson will also get the chance to impress in the boxing capital of the world.
“We’ve all got such high hopes for these kids,” said Hatton. “And I’m delighted that by me fighting in Vegas I’ve opened the door for these kids to get the same kind of experience that I got when I first fought in America when I was a novice.”
A teenaged Hatton beat Robert Alverez on Naseem Hamed’s New York undercard in December 1997 and cherishes the memory of fighting at the famed Madison Square Garden to this day.
“Fighting in these legendary places like Madison Square Garden and Las Vegas just makes you fight better,” the Hitman said. “It gives you extra motivation and, as Matthew, John and Nikki will find out, it makes you think “Bloody hell – I want to come back for more of this!’ and so you work harder for your next fights.
“It will be an experience they won’t ever forget, believe me.”
Light welter Smedley, 20, caused a stir among even the most cynical Vegas gym rats during his work outs in the famous Top Rank gym.
“He’s a little like Naseem (Hamed),” commented world regarded trainer Floyd Mayweather Senior. “He’s got some moves.”
“He’s got a style of his own – with good bodyshots,” legendary champion turned trainer Mike McCallum added.
8-0 Nikki fights the more experienced Juan Pablo Montes de Oca.
Meanwhile John Ibbotson, the light heavyweight prospect from Sheffield, takes on unbeaten Shannon Anderson. “The Steel City Assassin” has also impressed the Vegas intelligentsia, looking sufficiently dangerous on the heavy bags to impress Chad Dawson, who fights for the WBC world title in two weeks’ time.
“He’s very big, very strong for a 175lbs fighter,” said “Bad Chad’. “He jabs very well like I do. I plan on defending this title I am gonna win for a long, long time so maybe I’ll see this guy again.”
Ricky Hatton takes on IBF 140lbs champion Juan Urango at the Paris Hotel this Saturday, Jan 20, live on HBO in the US and Sky Box Office in Britain.
