Been watching the Hatton countdown on Setanta..? Hatton's in incredible shape!!

[smashup]

Pretty good coverage with Duke and Rawling in the Gym talking sh*t
Did show Corrales v Castillo in full and are showing the other fight TONIGHT with Cotto v Judah also,they got 2 or 3 full Hatton fights in the coming days too with a Hatton docu on Friday night (i think).
Some good re-runs all in all up until Sat.
Hatton looks in the best shape i have ever seen him too and Castillo (they say) likewise so we should be in for the war we all want!

[ono]

Yeh he's looking mean. Getting bit fed up with Duke McKenzie's input though. He keeps getting everyone's name wrong.

[Kev]

I'm suprised HBO havn't done a Countdown

I would have thought that they would have done something see as they covered Cotto Judah?

[Dark Lord Al]

yes Hatton is in top shape , unlike the last time i spoke to ricky and i said your are badly out of shape! he replied ive had alot on my plate

[Kev]

yes Hatton is in top shape , unlike the last time i spoke to ricky and i said your are badly out of shape! he replied ive had alot on my plate

lol

[Mark TKO]

i agree - he does look good

really think like you and that this is going to be an all out war.

Can't wait - though I think its 50/50 as to who will be the victor

[smashup]

I think Castillo will get old in there and seriously doubt he can keep up with Hatton for longer than 8 then he'll fade
Ricky's gonna come at him like a maniac and set too fast a pace.

[smashup]

www.sportinglife.co m

Billy Graham on Ricky's Fitness
Ricky Hatton is completing preparations for Saturday night's Las Vegas super-fight against Jose Luis Castillo with a frightening intensity which lends weight to trainer Billy Graham's claim that he will answer the opening bell in the best shape of his career.

Graham believes Hatton has been determined to push himself beyond his normal boundaries not only by the prospect of facing the fearsome Castillo, but also by the desire to revert to type after two relatively unimpressive recent performances.

Graham, who has been putting Hatton through his final paces at Zuffa's gym on West Sahara Avenue this week, said: "Ricky won his last two fights in difficult circumstances but this time he finds himself under more pressure to perform.

"People have come to expect Ricky's fights to be about constant excitement but they have got to understand that sometimes it is impossible if you are fighting a slick southpaw or if you are not feeling 100%.

"But this time Ricky is looking the best I have ever seen him. He is faster and sharper and I am convinced this is the kind of fight that will bring out the best of both of them. Their styles are going to gel and I have a feeling it is going to be a really special night."

Castillo is a man after Graham's heart. A keen student of the fight game, Graham grew up watching films of some of the great Mexican fighters and it is a source of great pride to him that Hatton would look as much at home in a seething Azteca Stadium as the MEN Arena back home.

Graham added: "I love all the Mexican fighters, especially the great bantamweights, so being involved in a fight like this is really exciting for me. Guys like Ruben Olivares, Carlos Zarate and of course Julio Cesar Chavez are my idols.

"The best in Mexico is usually the best in the world. They're so entertaining and passionate. It is the ultimate thing for me to be able to say that the guy I train is as good as any Mexican fighter out there."

Any criticism of Hatton's recent performances is unwarranted, according to Romulo Quirarte, Graham's opposite number in the Castillo corner who was previously involved in the career of Chavez and also led Manuel Medina to five world title wins.

Hatton moved up to dethrone WBA welterweight champion Luis Collazo via a narrow points verdict in Boston last year before making his Las Vegas debut with a one-sided if largely frustrating points win over Juan Urango in his last fight in January.

But veteran Quirarte spoke for many Mexican fight figures this week when he paid a glowing tribute to Hatton, and admitted Castillo - who at 33 may be fighting for his own pay-per-view future - is facing one of his toughest fights.

Quirarte said: "Hatton is a complete fighter, a proven champion. The key word with Hatton is 'fighter', because he has a real shock about his punches and a great desire in his body every time he fights.

"We have a great respect for Hatton and we know this is going to be one of Jose Luis's hardest fights. It is going to be like a chess game with warriors, unleashing all their pieces and armoury in attack.

"We know Hatton will never take a step backwards when he is under attack. He has a great heart. That is why he is like a Mexican in style.

We have worked twice as hard as we would normally to get things right for this fight."
www.sportinglife.co m

Billy Graham on Ricky's Fitness
Ricky Hatton is completing preparations for Saturday night's Las Vegas super-fight against Jose Luis Castillo with a frightening intensity which lends weight to trainer Billy Graham's claim that he will answer the opening bell in the best shape of his career.

Graham believes Hatton has been determined to push himself beyond his normal boundaries not only by the prospect of facing the fearsome Castillo, but also by the desire to revert to type after two relatively unimpressive recent performances.

Graham, who has been putting Hatton through his final paces at Zuffa's gym on West Sahara Avenue this week, said: "Ricky won his last two fights in difficult circumstances but this time he finds himself under more pressure to perform.

"People have come to expect Ricky's fights to be about constant excitement but they have got to understand that sometimes it is impossible if you are fighting a slick southpaw or if you are not feeling 100%.

"But this time Ricky is looking the best I have ever seen him. He is faster and sharper and I am convinced this is the kind of fight that will bring out the best of both of them. Their styles are going to gel and I have a feeling it is going to be a really special night."

Castillo is a man after Graham's heart. A keen student of the fight game, Graham grew up watching films of some of the great Mexican fighters and it is a source of great pride to him that Hatton would look as much at home in a seething Azteca Stadium as the MEN Arena back home.

Graham added: "I love all the Mexican fighters, especially the great bantamweights, so being involved in a fight like this is really exciting for me. Guys like Ruben Olivares, Carlos Zarate and of course Julio Cesar Chavez are my idols.

"The best in Mexico is usually the best in the world. They're so entertaining and passionate. It is the ultimate thing for me to be able to say that the guy I train is as good as any Mexican fighter out there."

Any criticism of Hatton's recent performances is unwarranted, according to Romulo Quirarte, Graham's opposite number in the Castillo corner who was previously involved in the career of Chavez and also led Manuel Medina to five world title wins.

Hatton moved up to dethrone WBA welterweight champion Luis Collazo via a narrow points verdict in Boston last year before making his Las Vegas debut with a one-sided if largely frustrating points win over Juan Urango in his last fight in January.

But veteran Quirarte spoke for many Mexican fight figures this week when he paid a glowing tribute to Hatton, and admitted Castillo - who at 33 may be fighting for his own pay-per-view future - is facing one of his toughest fights.

Quirarte said: "Hatton is a complete fighter, a proven champion. The key word with Hatton is 'fighter', because he has a real shock about his punches and a great desire in his body every time he fights.

"We have a great respect for Hatton and we know this is going to be one of Jose Luis's hardest fights. It is going to be like a chess game with warriors, unleashing all their pieces and armoury in attack.

"We know Hatton will never take a step backwards when he is under attack. He has a great heart. That is why he is like a Mexican in style.

We have worked twice as hard as we would normally to get things right for this fight."

[Boxerharvey]

Ive been saying all week that Ricky looks in well good shape, a hell of alot better than before the Urango fight when he looked tired & withdrawn. I have read that he has been doing loads of work with the 20kg medicine ball to get his body in shape for Castillos body shots, also saw a vid of him in training today off the Castillo/Hatton Gladiator website and he is looking well sharp on the pads.
Ive also heard that Castillo has trained his nuts off too for this so its gonna be a war!!