- Title: USA: "British Invasion" in Las Vegas for Hatton-Mayweather boxing showdown
- Date: 9th December 2007
- Summary: (BN01) LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 8, 2007) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF WELCOME TO LAS VEGAS SIGN "NEW YORK SKYLINE" IN LAS VEGAS VARIOUS OF TRAFFIC ON THE STRIP
- Embargoed: 24th December 2007 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA61FQNLMIHVDFMLRUJNLXPX8OE
- Story Text: Fans of British fighter Ricky Hatton "invade" Las Vegas as their fighter takes on Floyd Mayweather for the championship.
The final countdown is on to Saturday (December 8) night's showdown between challenger Ricky Hatton and champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., for the 147-pound welterweight title. The long awaited match-up between the two highly skilled fighters, who have drastically different styles, has reenergized the sport and put a buzz into the unseasonably cold Las Vegas air. The bout has also taken on an international flavor with the 10,000 "Brits" who've followed their fighter across the Atlantic.
At the Crown and Anchor, a British style pub on the Vegas strip, Hatton supporters felt right at home, singing soccer chants plus several renditions of "God Save the Queen" and "There's only one Ricky Hatton."
"I'm quite a big fan because I'm spending all this money coming over the Atlantic," explained Lee Boych, who arrived earlier this week to see the fight. "But, I'm looking forward to the business, I hope he knocks him out. You know what I mean, knocking out that arrogance."
"Yes, he's a good fighter, he's a quick fighter," added fellow "Brit" Martin Leach on the talents of Mayweather. "But I'm not sure he has as big a hits as Hatton."
MGM's 16,800-seat arena sold out within 30 minutes of tickets going on sale for the fight back in September and Internet resale sites are offering ringside seats for almost $13,000. The fight, if nothing else, is expected to be exciting.
While boxing historian Bert Sugar likes Hatton as a fighter, he told Reuters that he's definitely the underdog in the bout.
"This would be the biggest upset of an American by a Brit since Randy Tobin, Sugar Ray Robinson in 1951," explained Sugar. "I'm not sure it happens. I'd like to tell them that hatton has it, but Hatton is a junior welterweight at 140 pounds who has moved up to 147, I don't think he can carry it off. Although he has the style to beat Mayweather, he is still a lighter man with a 7 and half inch reach disadvantage."
Mayweather, who has a 38-0 record, is widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. Hatton, though comes into the fight with an unblemished record as well. After the fight, only one of them will remain undefeated. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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