Hungry Hatton eyes the big picture

RICKY HATTON admits he has allowed his mind to stray towards the prospect of future super-fights as he prepares to make his debut as a Las Vegas bill-topper tomorrow night.

Hatton challenges Juan Urango for the IBF light-welterweight title, secure in the knowledge that, if all goes to plan, his next contest will be an all-action clash with former lightweight king Jose Luis Castillo.

Representatives of both sides have already thrashed out a tentative deal for a summer showdown, and expect to be able to announce exact details at Saturday night’s post-fight press conference.

Hatton said: “Castillo is a dream fight and it couldn’t be anything other than an absolute barnstormer.

“Knowing that is in the distance gives me a great incentive to get past Urango.

“But it would also be unprofessional to look past this guy.

“I have got one eye on the Castillo fight, don’t get me wrong, but I have just got to concentrate on Urango for the time being.”

Castillo has his first fight at light-welterweight on the Paris Casino undercard when he takes on the unbeaten but little-known Cameroonian Hernan Ngoudjo.

The Mexican made his name in two brutal Las Vegas contests with his great rival Diego Corrales – and for a projected third fight which was called off at the last minute when he failed to make the weight.

Hatton will be hoping there are no more last-minute hitches thrown up by either Urango or Ngoudjo to scupper what could truly be regarded as one of this generation’s defining fights.