By Mark Vester
Ricky Hatton, a two-division champion and undefeated in 42 fights is the favorite on paper when he meets Jose Luis Castillo, also a two-division champion, but lost seven of his 55 bouts. The fight takes place in Las Vegas on June 23, and televised by HBO.
In an interview with the BBC , Castillo said that Hatton's record and his list of beaten opponents do not impress him. In his opinion, Hatton does not have a single big win over a top opponent on his record, even Kostya Tszyu, who Castillo says was past his prime when the fight took place. Even with seven losses, Castillo stands firm on holding the better overall record in the fight.
"I don't think for one minute Ricky Hatton's record bears any comparison with mine," said Castillo. "He is 42-0 but things like unbeaten records can be very misleading. I am not bothered about it. It will end. I have fought and beaten some of the best fighters in the world whereas Hatton hasn't got names like Diego Corrales, Floyd Mayweather or Joel Casamayor on his record. He fought Tszyu when Kostya was on the way down and even then Ricky had home advantage."
That doesn't mean he's overlooking Hatton, he predicts an all-out war, but a war that Castillo has no intentions of losing. According to Castillo, speed will be the key to victory because Hatton likes to face fighters who are slow.
"Hatton is a good, strong fighter, but I am going to knock him out," said Castillo. "Hatton is there to be beaten and I know I am going to be the first boxer to do it. My trainer told me he has never seen me any better in the sparring I have done. That is a warning to Hatton and he should know that on 23 June it will be a war. I am going to win that war. Hatton will have never seen anything like me. I have the best upper cut in the division and I will use it against Hatton. Ricky is used to slow, cumbersome fighters, but I have real hand speed and that will cut him down."
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