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Ricky Hatton will come face to face with the former “Baddest man on the Planet’ Mike Tyson on June 23 in Las Vegas.
But the unbeaten “Hitman’ won’t be swapping punches with the ex-undisputed heavyweight world champion, as Tyson will be in Victor Odanov’s corner on the undercard of Hatton’s eagerly awaited clash with Jose Luis Castillo.
Tyson is a close friend of Odanov’s trainer Jeff Fenech and has accepted an invitation to help in the Russian fighter’s corner as he takes on former three-time world title contender Antwun Echols.
Odanov has incredibly stopped all 26 of his opponents since turning pro eight years ago and is regarded as one of the hottest prospects in world boxing.
The Russian super-middleweight, who now lives in Sydney, said: “It is a massive honour for me to have Mike Tyson in my corner and for me to be on the Ricky Hatton-Jose Luis Castillo bill.
“Mike and Jeff are big pals and when he was offered to chance to work my corner he jumped at it. I think he was really excited, not just about seeing me, but also about the Hatton-Castillo fight, which will be explosive.
“It is a real treat for fight fans to see Mike Tyson in the flesh and Jeff just hopes this sort of thing will help him enjoy his life outside the ring.
“He could not have chosen a better night to make his debut as a cornerman because he loves Hatton’s style of fighting, but anyone who knows Castillo is aware that he is a very proud boxer who took part in one of the greatest fights of all time against Diego Corrales.
“It promises to be a very special night in Las Vegas and I cannot wait to make my record 27-0 and with 27 stoppages. Echols will not know what has hit him. My nickname is the “Destroyer” and he will find out why on June 23.”
Former two-weight world champion Fenech, who is regarded as one of Tyson’s closest friends, said: “Mike has always been a keen pupil of the sport and he was delighted to be given the chance to be in Victor’s corner. Anyone who has ever met Mike will tell you that he has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the sport.
“He knows every fighter, their records and their strengths and weaknesses. If we can tap into that then it will help Victor become the next super-middleweight world champion which will happen in the next 12 to 18 months.”
The fact that Tyson will be “working’ in Las Vegas on Hatton’s undercard will be rapturously welcomed by the 8,000 British fans who are making the trip to the mecca of the sport later this month.
Despite his notorious image outside the ring, boxing supporters still fondly remember the Tyson of the late 1980s who dismantled the heavyweight division to become the biggest name in world sport.
Odanov’s presence on the bill is a real coup for British promoters Fight Academy, who say they have been inundated with ticket requests for Hatton’s clash with Castillo at the Thomas and Mack Centre.
Fight Academy’s Dennis Hobson said: “Tickets for Ricky’s fight are the hottest in town and they will be even hotter when it goes around that Tyson will be there on the night as well.
“As for Victor Odanov, every single major promoter in America was after him, but we have signed him because of our friends in Australia. His record says it all. It is absolutely astonishing that he has stopped all 26 opponents but this is his biggest test to date against Echols, no mean fighter himself, who only lost on points to Bernard Hopkins and knocked out Charles Brewer.
“Both the two main fights will be fantastic for the fans out there and those who can watch it back in Britain are also in for a treat.”
Hatton-Castillo and Odanov-Echols is available for a one-off payment of just £15 from Setanta television, which will include two months’ free subscription to the satellite channel boasting Premiership and England international football.
