Hatton is such a true Blue

Dec 7 2007 by Paul Gilder, The Journal

I’LL be without my usual sidekick when I go around the lounges following Saturday’s Premier League game at St James’s Park because John Beresford is going to Las Vegas.

Bez has got a ticket to see Ricky Hatton (pictured below) in his WBC title fight against Floyd Mayweather. Envious isn’t the word.

I’d love to be there. Vegas is a great place – we went there for our holidays last year – and this is such a massive fight. I’ll be watching at home, but I think Bez has got the better deal.

Because it doesn’t start until 4am UK time, I’ll go to bed after Match of the Day and set an alarm. It might be difficult to get up at that hour, but as long as I can get out of bed, I don’t think it will be difficult to stay awake once the action starts. I’m a big Hatton fan. I can’t claim to know him well, although we met several times during the month that I spent on loan at Manchester City in 1998. He always impressed me.

The passion he has for his football club is frightening. He was always around the place, in the dressing room, trying to persuade us to let him have a game. He’s just a normal lad with an amazing passion.

That is what sport should be about for me. He epitomises it.

What he has done in boxing is brilliant. To be unbeaten in 43 fights is magnificent and I just hope he can make it 44 this weekend.

The consensus in our house is that he can. I’ve paid £14.95 to watch the fight, but I’ll have no complaints if it is all over in minutes – as long as Ricky’s the man still standing.

I’m sure that he can do it because he has remarkable courage. He has taken a bashing at times, but he has come through it and look what he has achieved.

I’d love to keep watching him for years to come, but although I’ve got no wish to see him retire I couldn’t complain were he to beat Mayweather and then hang up his gloves. Should he win in Vegas, he’ll never top it. I just wish it was me and not Bez preparing to go ringside. But at least I’ll get to see Newcastle beat Birmingham.