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Ricky's return to Vegas

Gavin Browne
20/ 2/2007

RICKY Hatton makes his return to Las Vegas in the summer when he takes on Mexican Jose Luis Casttillo at the Thomas and Mack Center on June 23.

The fight was finally confirmed at a press conference on Monday after both men came through fights on the same bill last month.

That night saw Hatton beat Juan Urango on points while Castillo laboured his way to a split decision victory over Cameroon's Hernan Ngoudjo.

With Hatton having given up his IBF light-welterweight belt after preferring to face Castillo rather than mandatory challenger Lovemore N'Dou, the pair are fighting for the nominal IBO belt.

Hatton said: "You become a great fighter by fighting great fighters and Jose is one of them.

"I am so excited about this fight and I am living my dreams by topping the bill in Las Vegas again. This fight does not need anyone to sell it.

"When I beat Kostya Tszyu I beat one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world and Jose undoubtedly falls into that category as well.

"A lot has been said about our last performances but when you are involved in so many big fights you raise your game for a challenge - and this is a challenge to say the least."