Hatton to honour Corrales' memory

Updated 23.50 Fri Jun 22 2007
Keywords: Ricky Hatton, boxing, sport

Ricky Hatton is vowing to honour the memory of former world lightweight champion Diego Corrales when he fights Jose Luis Castillo in Las Vegas.

Corrales, who fought two epic battles against former lightweight champion Castillo and had been mentioned as a prospective future Hatton opponent, was killed in a motorcycle crash two months ago.

"I think it's going to be fireworks, to say the least. I can see it being the best performance of my career, to be honest" - Ricky Hatton

And Hatton, who presented Corrales' widow Michelle with a bunch of flowers at the final head-to-head press conference, has vowed: "We will fight in a way which would have made Diego proud."

Hatton, who has been working hard for his super-fight with Castillo, is determined to cement his final legacy in the sport and will be looking produce a show for the US public after unconvincing victories against Luiz Collazo and Juan Urango.

The 28-year-old Manchester 'hitman' is unbeaten in his 42 fights to date, a record which includes 30 knockouts, and told reporters: "I think it's going to be fireworks, to say the least. I can see it being the best performance of my career, to be honest.

"It's been frustrating for me because since I've come over here to make a big splash in America, even though I've won two world titles, I don't think they've seen me in top form."

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