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Basking in the afterglow of the biggest fight night for some years, Britain's most widely exported world champion, Ricky Hatton, insisted yesterday that Oscar de la Hoya could fight the Mancunian in front of 70,000 spectators at the new Wembley Stadium.

Hatton talks up dream fight with De la Hoya: Ricky Hatton

In memoriam: Ricky Hatton has dedicated his title fight against Jose Luis Castillo to Diego Corrales

Hatton said that Wayne Rooney, the Manchester United and England striker, would carry his International Boxing Organisation light-welterweight title belt into the ring at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on June 23, for his defence against the Mexican Jose Luis Castillo. Eight thousand British fans are expected to travel to support him.

Meanwhile, Hatton revealed that De la Hoya, who lost a split-points decision against Floyd Mayweather for the World Boxing Council light-middleweight crown in Las Vegas last weekend, would like to fight in England.

"He also said one of his goals is to box in front of the biggest live audience here," Hatton added. "With a fight at the new Wembley or the City of Manchester Stadium, you could get that easily.

"Now Oscar has lost, it depends on whether he wants to carry on. If he does, he knows where to find us.

"Without a doubt it would be a dream. He said he'd be willing to move near the welterweight division in order to do it, so it could happen."

"Joe Calzaghe got a wonderful crowd of 35,000 against Peter Manfredo in Cardiff. Ricky Hatton against Oscar De La Hoya -I'd be lying if I said we didn't think we could double it."

Hatton, 28, attended a news conference in London yesterday to announce that Setanta Television had signed a deal with the world's No 1 light-welterweight and his promoter, Dennis Hobson, to show the Castillo contest, with six additional fight nights in the coming 12 months.

Hatton, who has developed a huge fan base over his 10-year, 42-fight unbeaten professional career, will be joined by several well-known sporting and music celebrities in the American fight capital.

Rooney, whose father won amateur boxing titles and whose uncle runs a gym, will be in Vegas to support Hatton with United team-mates Ryan Giggs, Wes Brown and John O'Shea. Noel Gallagher, of Oasis, will also join the celebrity entourage.

Hatton said: "I knew Wayne was a big boxing fan. I used to box for England with his cousin Richie. When I heard he [Rooney] was going to be there, it seemed like a good idea to ask him to carry in my belt. He was made up about it, really delighted."

Hatton will be making his third appearance in the United States after winning back the IBO light-welterweight title against Juan Urango in January. He also beat Luiz Collazo for the WBA welterweight title last year. While both triumphs were seen as less than convincing, Hatton believes Castillo will bring out the best in him. "I've really got the bit between my teeth for this fight," he said. "I'm getting the same nerves as I had before I fought Kostya Tszyu. I will be straight on the front foot against Castillo, who is one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world."

Castillo has a career record of 55 wins, seven losses and one draw, with 47 knockouts. He is renowned for his ring wars with Diego Corrales, 29, who died in a motorcycle accident on the outskirts of Las Vegas on Monday night.

Hatton yesterday dedicated his next fight to the memory of Corrales, insisting that the American was one of the stand-out fighters of this generation. "It is absolutely tragic news. I had a lot of admiration for Diego Corrales and his mega-fight against Jose Luis Castillo deserves to be ranked among the finest of all time. I had often been linked with a fight with him. He was my kind of fighter, a fighter's fighter. He was very passionate about his sport and boxing is a lot worse off without him."

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

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