Khan v Alexander: Ricky Hatton remembers the showbiz of his own Las Vegas fight nights
The Hitman couldn't have been happier hitting the bright lights
Friday 12 December 2014 15:52, UK
Ricky Hatton has described fighting as the star attraction amid the glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas Strip as "a dream I’ll never wake from".
Once you’ve won the world title that’s the next thing on your mind – seeing your name up in lights in Vegas. Seeing my name up in lights in Vegas is a dream I’ll never wake up from.
The two-weight world champion is synonymous with bringing an army of British fans over the Atlantic for his duels with Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquaio and while he lost those fights, he amassed a winning 3-2 record in five Vegas outings.
With fellow Lancastrian Amir Khan competing in Sin City against Devon Alexander live on Sky Sports 1 in the early hours of Sunday morning, Hatton recalled the unique atmosphere of the fight capital of the world.
“Everything’s larger than life, the buffets are bigger, the hotels are bigger and everything is massively over the top,” he told Sky Sports.
“There’s a hotel that looks like a volcano and a hotel with a pirate ship, then there’s one that’s a pyramid.
“At night, flying over the Strip, to see it all lit up is something else. When you fly in you can see the Strip just as you’re landing. It’s one of the best places on earth.
Occasion
“You get a lot of Hollywood stars that go to fights but you always see the same ones – Denzel Washington, Brad Pitt, Sylvester Stallone. They’re pure boxing fans. You walk down the Strip and you see Elton John and Celine Dion’s names, and then Ricky Hatton’s name on a big flashing screen! It’s very surreal.
“Just knowing that Strip is outside the building seems to add a little more to the occasion. I had the Juan Urango fight at the Paris Hotel and it was amazing - you’ll never wake up from that feeling.
Live Fight Night
“The world title was always the dream but you always know that if you win the world title you’ve got the opportunity of fighting in Vegas to follow. Once you’ve won the world title that’s the next thing on your mind – seeing your name up in lights in Vegas. Seeing my name up in lights in Vegas is a dream I’ll never wake up from.”
Although several British fighters – Khan being the latest – have made Vegas their home, none have boasted the maniacal support of the fight fans that descended en masse when Hatton fought.
He said: “The Urango fight, 5,000 came over. The Castillo fight, 10,000 came over. Frank Bruno previously had the record so when 10,000 came over to see me I thought ‘wow’.
“The Mayweather fight, 30,000 fans came over. Oscar de la Hoya said to me ‘it’s never been done and it’ll never be done again’.
“The previous record was 10,000 – I had 8,000 at the weigh-in with Mayweather! My best achievement was the fan-base. I’m not saying I’m the best British fighter ever because I’m not but my fan-base shattered everybody’s.”
Watch Amir Khan take on Devon Alexander, live on Sky Sports 1, from 2.00am on Sunday morning.
