RICKY Hatton weighed in wearing a pair of Union Jack underpants,in front of almost 1,000 fans at the Palace Casino in Las Vegas lastnight.
Both Hatton and his opponent Juan Urango weighed in 1lb under thelight-welterweight limit, on 9st 13lb.
Hatton took the microphone and told his supporters: 'I am reallyproud to be here and to get this sort of reception.
'This belt is definitely coming back home with me.'
The Manchester 'Hitman' meets Urango for his old IBF light-welterweight title at the Paris Casino tonight, desperate to put on ashow.
Hatton declared: 'I have said all along I want people to go awayfrom my fights feeling they have been entertained.
'Vegas is about the biggest names in entertainment and I have notbeen involved in a stinker yet so I am in the right city. I alwaysbelieved I had the ability to fight on the big stage.'
Hatton has won over the Las Vegas public this week with his self-deprecating brand of humour and talk of being genuinely awed by hisnew-found superstar status on the Strip.
Now he has the chance to become a semi-permanent fixture, withvictory over Urango leading to a June super-fight back in this desertcity against the all-action Mexican Jose Luis Castillo.
Meanwhile Bradford's Junior Witter puts his WBC belt on the lineagainst Mexican Arturo Morua at London's Alexandra Palace tonight.
But Witter also hopes to unify the light-welterweight division bymeeting Hatton - assuming both men win tonight.
'It's the logical fight,' said Witter. 'If he wins and when I winit's definitely going to be an appealing fight.'
Witter and Morua both comfortably made the weight within the 10-stone limit, tipping the scales at 9st l3 1/4 lbs.
