Ricky Hatton result - KO's Jose Luis Castillo in 4 rounds!
LAS VEGAS REPORT: Manchester's Ricky Hitman Hatton defeats Mexican Jose Luis Castillo by 4th round body shot in a punch that would make Duran or Chavez proud.
Pictures by Johnny Rooks
After the opening bell Hatton and Castillo got straight down to the nitty gritty and both fighters were winging in hurtful body blows and each raced to try and cut down the other in spectacular fashion.
In the first round neither would give the other an inch and in a typical 'fight in a phonebox' style fight, it was 'forehead on forehead' for th practically the whole round. At the first interval Billy Graham, Hatton's trainer pleaded with Ricky to calm down and to stop wasting energy.
Round 2 began at the same blistering pace with both fighters pushing and punching at every opportunity, with Ricky arguably having the faster, more successful combinations. But Hatton had the trickier combinations whilst Castillo began head hunting and throwing the jab.
Round 3 began at a frantic pace again, despite the words of caution from Billy Graham to slow down, Hatton jumped straight into the trenches with Castillo and at times they wrestled each other to get their shots off - with Castillo having his say in all the exchanges.
Round 4 began with Hatton putting distance between themselves slightly to get his faster combinations and hooks off and they started to slightly get into their boxing-game at last, but after the halfway mark both fighters got back in each other's faces and suddenly Castillo threw a low-blow which was deducted a point for. Hatton came back on strong and yet another borderline punch went in from Castillo - when suddenly in another exchange on the ropes Hatton landed a magnificent left hand and it dropped Castillo to his knee's, with his gum shield hanging out... the ref ran over and administered the count and Castillo was still too sickened to raise to his feet nor even attempt it and was stopped at 2m16 of the 4th round.
"I trained for 12 rounds of pain tonight, but i had great training camp for the Kostya Tyszu fight but this camp left that weel in it's tracks - and that has obviously shown tonight" said the Hitman after being asked if he took note of Billy Graham's advice to calm down- "I admit i was going a little over the top, but even in the very first round, i felt i could throw himaround like a rag doll, i felt that strong"
"I went into the ring tonight as a very frustrated man after my last two performances, have..been against two world champions at two different weight divisions - but they (the performances) have not been 'vintage Ricky' and i really wanted to go out and put a show on and sometimes when you try too hard it can land you in trouble and has done in the past and i'm sure it will do in the future!" Hatton joked.
Upon the Castillo low blows "He didn't snap me in two, but it's not entirely pleasant being hit on the old meat and two veg, sure the punches had a little icing on them!" said Ricky "I did it (complained to Ref) because he usually does it ALL the way through 12 rounds of the fight and i wanted the ref to cut it out straight away as it takes it's toll"
On the body shot that KO'd Castillo "I could see the elbows protecting the body so i threw a headshot and the elbow came out slightly and i tucked it right behind his rib - and it was as lively as your tie tonight son!" he jokingly said to Setanta Sports at ringside.
"I seem him wince with a bodyshot early and i seen him not liking it even in the first round - to come all the way over here with all my fans and to knock him out like that, compares to the Kostya fight and ranks right alongside it"
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