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Hatton regains IBF title

21/01/2007

Ricky Hatton regained his IBF light welterweight title with a unanimous points victory over Colombian Juan Urango in Las Vegas last night.

The Manchester fighter was awarded the contest 119-109 by all the judges at ringside, but his durable opponent made 'The Hitman' work hard for his victory.

Hatton was in the ascendancy in the early part of the fight, out-manoeuvring Urango and picking him off with a series of combinations as well as a right hand that shook the Colombian in round two.

As the fight wore on Urango began to show his strength while Hatton was visibly tiring. The final three rounds saw Hatton largely trying to spoil and hang on to the lead he had built up in the earlier rounds.

Jose Luis Castillo is being lined up as Hatton's next opponent after the Mexican won his bout with Hernan Ngoudjo on a split points decision.

After stepping up a weight division Castillo looked ring-rusty and only scraped past his opponent. Two judges scored it 115-113 for Castillo and the other had the same score for Ngoudjo.

Earlier in the night Junior Witter retained his WBC light welterweight crown with a ninth round stoppage of Arturo Morua at Alexandra Palace.

Witter said he was disappointed not have won the bout quicker but was pleased with the left and right combinations that caused the knockout.

In Basel Nikolay Valuev retained his WBA world heavyweight belt when opponent Jameel McCline was forced to retire because of a knee injury.

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