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Hatton calls for united front

RICKY HATTON: Hitman tunes up in the gym
RICKY Hatton has urged his legions of supporters to put tribal differences aside when they converge on Las Vegas next month for his light-welterweight super-fight against Jose Luis Castillo.

Over 8,000 fans are expected to jet across the Atlantic to roar on staunch Manchester City fan Hatton - who admits some are less than happy that Wayne Rooney will be carrying in one of his belts.

Despite footballing differences Hatton has grown to be close friends with the United striker and has asked him to take part in his ring entrance alongside Mexican ring great Marco Antonio Barrera.

Hatton said: "I am disappointed that a few City fans have asked me if it is true that Wayne is carrying the belt in, and said 'oh well, we won't be going then'.

"I can see where they are coming from because when it comes to football probably nobody hates United more than me. When it's derby day I hope we kick them all over the pitch.

"But that is just football and so anybody who doesn't want to come and watch my fight because Wayne is carrying the belt in, well you are not welcome as far as I'm concerned."

Rooney is expected to be joined at ringside at the Thomas and Mack Center by United team-mates Rio Ferdinand, John O'Shea and Wes Brown, along with City midfielder Joey Barton.

Lavish

Hatton recently attended a lavish London birthday party for Rooney's fiancee Colleen and said he saw many similarities between himself and the United star.

Hatton added: "I like Wayne's attitude. He is no-nonsense and when you think of the spotlight he is under, for him to remain the way he is is impressive.

"I like Wayne as a player, he is always attacking and he is the type of exciting, attacking player who keeps you on the edge of your seat.

"I also like his attitude. In this era of celebrity nobodies who haven't achieved everything, Wayne, with everything he has achieved, is still so grounded and that's what I like about him.

"Just because I don't support his team doesn't mean I can't admire what he has done. And I must admit I will have a little chuckle when I see him carrying one of my belts out to 'Blue Moon'.

Having been forced to vacate the IBF title he won over Juan Urango last time out, Hatton enters the fight without a recognised world title belt to his name.

But he will boast the fringe IBO title and also the belt awarded by the 'Ring' Magazine to the fighter it considers to be the rightful number one in each division.

Hatton will head out to Las Vegas a week on Thursday and set up camp in a rented house alongside his brother Matthew and domestic middleweight contender Matthew Macklin.

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LOOKS LIKE RICKY`S NOT AS BITTER, AS MOST OF YOU MUPPETS.IT SEEMS A FEW OF YOU HAVE LOST YOUR WAY ,PUT YOUR DUMMIES BACK IN.IT DOESN`T MATTER WHO CARRIES IS BELT,THIS IS BOXING.NOT FOOTBALL,IF YOU CANT SUPPORT THE HITMAN BECAUSE OF WHO HE CHOOSES.THEN YOU WEREN`T FANS IN THE FIRST PLACE.UPTO NOW HE HAS DONE MORE,THAN YOUR TEAM WILL EVER DO.ALWAYS REMEMBER HE`S A SUCCESSFULL BLUE.I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THIS MEANT SOMETHING TO YOU CLOWNS. END OF

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Come on !

Hatton is fighting for England not any football team, who cares about football when it comes down to something like this.

Get behind the lad and grow up !

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Ronaldo the Red Champion,

rumour has it that Sir Alex Fergusson is going to present Shaun Goater with a special award regarding his outstanding contibution to derby performances.

I hope Ricky Hatton wins, a MANCUNIAN city fan. According to red propaganda I thought we all supported Man Utd.

Turn up for the book!

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Good luck Ricky, to be honest i dont care who carries your belts, boxing & football out of the way id like to say on a very very personnal note:

TO RONALDO THE RED CHAMPION, TOP OF THE PREM

Get back in your little red box & coil your neck down. this is not a supporter of any team or boxer talking, this is plain old me talking now, forget your a red for a second as right now i am forgetting im a blue just until ive finished with you, go & find yourself something constructive to do & beat it down the road, yes you hiding behind a computer mouthing off & i dont care who you are or who you support, you could support Ladin FC for all i care & while your at it, GROW UP.

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I notice the 2 united muppets who've already posted comments have shown their true inteligence with wild generalisations about all City fans. Most football fans aren't at the base level that you are Christiano the Red. True city fans just want Ricky to win and that's it. He's an incredibly admirable, honest and likeable character, that's enough for me, it doesn't even matter that much that he's English, it helps but I just like him and I think the yanks do too.

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the song blue moon is boring and out of date and needs to be thrown away and discarded as a City anthem. As for Rooney carrying Hattons belt into the ring all it does is make the City fans resent Ricky's choice and why he couldn't choose someone such as Richard Dunne absolutely baffles me,sadly Ricky will lose a few City fans over this and really its a publicity stunt to generate MONEY etc.Not only is there Rooney but there are THREE other United players I cant believe it at all what goes on at times.Sorry Ricky but you have let yourself down,moreso if it was the other way round with say another boxer as high profile supporting United and City had Rooney in their team winning every week fighting for honours I'm certain he wouldn't be invited to carry his belt into the ring they wouldn't have that it would be one of their own not their bitterest rivals players, its a strange one it really is BUT motivated by publicity and the financial spin offs that go with it.Call me bitter Ricky if you wish but I strongly believe you have betrayed the MANCHESTER CITY FANS!!!!!!!

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Well Ricky lets hope this means that you aren't wheeled out the COMS before every single fight you have or every major game we play .
If you want the continued support of fans who couldn't give a rats about boxing that badly then you should choose who you favour more wisely unforgivable in my book .

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AS I SAID PREVIOUSLY,PUT YOUR DUMMIES BACK IN MUPPETS.LIKE RICKY SAID IF YOU DONT LIKE IT,YOUR NOT WELCOME.IF HE WANTS TO HANG AROUND WITH BETTER CLASS ,THEN THATS UP TO HIM.TED NOTT YOUR RIGHT ABOUT THE BLUE MOON THEME,WHAT ABOUT CHANGING IT TO,WHO`S CRYING NOW
JUST FOR JAY.SAD BITTER

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Ronaldo the red (scum) champion,it seems you haven't got over Chelsea winning more trophies than Utd (AGAIN) and what happened to the treble?????? re- Hatton well it isn't exactly the ultimate betrayal BUT there is a strong element of disrespect to the City fans.Put it this way - you wouldn't like it if it was the other way round your OBVIOUS bitterness would shine through - GROW UP BIGOT?

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PUT YOUR DUMMY BACK IN TED,YOUR DRIBBLING ON AGAIN.I LIKE THE WAY,THAT YOU LOT ARE ALWAYS CRYING.YOUR LIKE SPOILT KIDS,I THINK YOU ALL NEED TO TAKE AS STEP BACK.YOU MIGHT FIND THAT IT`S YOU MUPPETS, THAT NEED TO GROW UP. LOSERS.HA HA HA

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Nobody really cared that Rooney was his right hand man. However I was dissapointed when Rooney was subbed at the Manchester Derby and a fan thrw a City scarf at him, which he proceeded to stamp on and then mock the City supporters. He deserves all the stick he gets

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nope he doesnt; he showed his colours which are red; point is this is boxing and even a die hard red like me will be cheering ricky on...end of story. The guy is a legend and deserves our support, from a personal point of view i think anybody who gets in a ring does! Anybody who brings a world championship to manchester gets my support..blue or not! Lets here it for ricky blues and reds the guy is a true hero!

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