Hatton reclaims IBF Jr Welterweight Title!

Castillo barely escapes with narrow split decision!

Ricky Hatton's made a successful Las Vegas debut, as he outpointed Juan Urango via unanimous decision to reclaim the IBF Jr Welterweight Title.

Not primarily recognized as a boxer, Hatton showed some technical brilliance in the first four rounds by outboxing Urango, yet Urango managed to figure out that style in the fifth round, which turned out to be Urango's best round of the fight.

From that point on, Hatton changed his style from the boxer to the mauling/holding style he has often utilized to defeat previous opponents such as Ben Tackie. Skeptics would say Hatton clinched way too many times against an opponent who was fighting with such a speed disadvantage. Nonetheless, Hatton got the done with a unanimous verdict, all three judges scoring the fight 119-109. Speakboxing also scored the contest 119-109 for Hatton.

On the under card, Jose Luis Castillo made his 140lb debut and kept alive the major plans for a June super fight with Hatton, but just barely, with a very close split decision over previously unbeaten Herman Ngoudio. In the early rounds, Castillo looked flat and listless, as Ngoudio was able to land the cleaner and faster shots and force Castillo to the ropes.

The tide would turn, however, in the middle rounds, as Castillo sensed the urgency of a brewing upset as well as the potential loss of a big payday, and stepped up his intensity level to land some telling body shots on Ngoudio and out work him down the stretch.

The judges scored the fight 115-113 (twice) for Castillo, and 115-113 for Ngoudio.