Hatton to take on De La Hoya???

Crocker

RICKY HATTON will be offered a £30million super-fight against Oscar De La Hoya at the new Wembley Stadium if he beats Jose Luis Castillo here tonight.

De La Hoya, known as The Golden Boy, has told friends it is one of his last ambitions to fight Hatton at Wembley before he retires. And Hatton, who is being supported in Las Vegas by pal Wayne Rooney and a host of Premiership stars, is desperate to add another big name to his list of conquests.

Manchester City fan Hatton, who received a message of support from the club's potential new owner Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday, is quickly becoming one of boxing's most sought-after opponents.

Negotiations have not yet begun but it is thought that the fight would take place in September or October at welterweight, with Hatton moving up a division and De La Hoya moving down one.

Hatton's all-action style has already turned him into the leading boxing attraction in Britain and he is an outstanding ambassador for the sport.

But if he beats Castillo tonight and then inks a deal to face De La Hoya, it will turn him into one of the country's sporting superstars. Hatton is already one of the biggest draws in world boxing and nearly 10,000 British fight fans, including Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole and Wes Brown, have travelled to Las Vegas to see tonight's fight at the Thomas and Mack Center.

Rooney visited Hatton at his gym off the Las Vegas strip here on Wednesday and will carry Hatton's IBO world title belt into the ring.

"I'm really buzzing about it all because Ricky has become a great pal," said Rooney. "It's the first time in Vegas for me and Coleen and we are looking forward to the fight immensely.

"I'm incredibly proud of what Ricky has done and also to carry his belt into the ring. I know it will be one of the most fabulous experiences of my life."

mirror.co.uk