Once again...it's on my fellow forum goer's! The weight is finally over...pun intended! Heh heh heh.

Coming up on Saturday the 20th, 2007 on HBO's World Championship Boxing the British bull dog Ricky "the Hitman" Hatton (41 fights with 30 ko's & 0 losses) comes stateside once again to face undefeated 140 pounder Juan Urango (17 wins with 13ko's, 1 draw, & 0 losses) for the very junior welterweight title that Ricky vacated so many months ago to fight for a title at 147 pounds.

Although...it should be noted (and it's old news and wasted ammuntition now) that Hatton's "Assault on America" didn't quite make the splash that he had expected & his bid at 147 supremacy last May in Boston floundered as he struggled over a 12 rounder with then champion, Luis Collazo. Whether or not you believe in Hatton or not, one thing is for sure...once he climbs through the ropes...action is quick to follow. Although, Collazo was able to put up a hell of a battle...it was only after he had been dropped to the mat in the very first round, much to his dismay. Hatton is, argueably, right back where he belongs...in the thick of things...knee deep once again...in argueably, one of the most talent rich divisions across the board.

As he returns to sort out the mess of his old stomping grounds in the Light Welterweight division, two questions are already being juggled by fans. #1: Will the moves up & down the board hurt Hatton...or better him? #2: Urango. Is he a worthy opponant?

We'll get into that latter...but, let's stick to Hatton for a second.

Ricky has had quite a run.

He's undefeated in 41 fights and he's pulled 30 of those wins off by knockout. With a record full of questionable opponents and even more question marks...it's easy for most American fans and casual viewers alike to write Hatton off...that is until he blazes across the screen and smokes most of his opponants with a style reminescent of a young Roberto Duran. Mix that in with the fact that he was voted as Ring's Fighter of the Year, he blew out Kostya Tszyu in 11 rounds, went on to destroy Carlos Maussa, & stood toe to toe with Luis Collazo at 147lbs...well...it's hard not support the kid...or atleast get thoroughly interested in what "the Hitman" has to offer.

So? Here he is...once again with questions to be answered. The main one being: Will the move back down hurt Hatton? His fans will argue no...all the while his critics constantly remind the fans of the issues that he had during the rise. How a bigger man wasn't so easily bullied and that Urango is also a bigger man...just packaged into a smaller frame. Questions & answers...they always breed more of one than the other...generally they raise more questions. The thing is...Hatton always answers them...& rather dramatically.

Now that wer'e done lauding Ricky Hatton...let's be fair & give Juan Urango his dues. Juan Urango's an undefeated 140lb power house (17 wins, 1 draw, & 13 ko's) who many think is biting off much much more than he can chew stepping in against Hatton...but Hatton has a bit of an axe to grind here as Urango walked into the light welterweight strap that he now holds when Ricky vacated it last May prior to the Collazo fiasco.

Urango picked up the strap in a bid for the vacant strap in June against Ben Rabah during a 12 round stinker at the Seminole Hard Rock Arena in Hollywood, Florida. Now he'll have to go through hell and high water to keep it and also to get a handle on the vacant IBO Light Welterweight strap at the same time.

Personally...I don't give Urango a shot in hell of handling Hatton...he's taylor made for Ricky...no matter what anyone says...Urango lost that fight against Ben Rabah...& if there's any justice...he'll lose this one by knockout.

In Wacko's opinion, this should be a pleasant return to the division that he had taken by storm over the past 4 or 5 years.

If he can come back...and come back on point...with Cotto and Mayweather gone...the 140 pound division will be pretty much wide open and he should have a fairly easy shot at regaining his previous status...unless...unless...another certain someone on the rise were to get in his way...that someone?

Former WBO & WBC Lightweight titlist Jose Luis "El Terrible" Castillo.
Jose Luis Castillo (62 fights, 54 wins with 47 ko's, 7 losses, & 1 draw) is best known for being the one and only man to give P4P champ Floyd Mayweather an actual fight. He also made a name for both he and his fellow combant Diego Corrales in a vicious contest during the WBC-WBO Lightweight Unification match back in 2005.

The match took place on May 7, 2005 and if I am not mistaken it won Ring Magazine's Fight of the Year for 2005. It was a hell of a night indeed...one can only hope, pray, & cross all of his toes and fingers that the same might materialize in a possible fight between Hatton and Castillo later on down the road...but both have challenges just around the bend in front of them on this night...

Or do they?

I don't know alot about Herman Ngoudjo (15 fights with 9 ko's), other than the fact that he has defended his NABF Light Welterweight strap either 6 or 7 times & now holds the WBC's International Light Welter title. I do know this though, both straps are on the line against Castillo...limited knowledge or not...I think that this is a mistake. The thing is...Ngoudjo didn't come here to just hand his title away...he's faced some decent fighters...none as diverse or strong as Castillo...but decent all the same.

That being said when Castillo has something to fight for...he fights and then some. With two titles, redemption, & a possible mega money match up on the line & Ngoudjo standing before him...well...whattaya think the outcome's gonna be?

If wer'e all honest with each other here...both Hatton & Castillo are taking a set of tune-up fights in preperation of a late summer superfight.

Predictions? Hatton by mid round TKO. Castillo UD.

We shall see...as always...break out the chips & salsa & pick your poison of choice! So pops some tops & tilt a few back for ole' Wacko...it's fight night!!!

Cheers & koneecheewah bitches.