Posted on 12/08/2007 1:02:12 PM PST by LibWhacker
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) — Just listening to the crowd, you would have sworn it was Manchester United playing at Old Trafford.
Instead, it was Manchester's Ricky Hatton drawing cheers in a song-filled weigh-in for the ages here Friday ahead of the undefeated Englishman's welterweight showdown Saturday with unbeaten US champion Floyd Mayweather.
The boisterous atmosphere came from a rowdy crowd of 5,930 that jammed the MGM Grand Arena for hours to watch a weigh-in, nearly all of them cheering for Hatton and booing Mayweather, the defending World Boxing Council champion.
"Fatty's going to get you," the British fans roared to Mayweather, whose throat-slashing gesture in response drew jeers.
Hatton, 43-0 with 31 knockouts, weighed in at 145 pounds while Mayweather, 38-0 with 24 knockouts, was at the division's 147-pound limit.
Thousands of people jammed the hallway leading to the arena ahead of the weigh-in, singing their praise of Hatton while waiting five hours for a glimpse of their man.
Security closed off the entrance nearly two hours before the weigh-in, the arena already packed to its reduced capacity in what might be the closest visitors come to seeing the sold-out bout live.
Even some closed-circuit telecasts along the Las Vegas Strip are sold out.
Thousands have come from Britain, many without tickets, and were treated to a replay of a Wednesday staredown confrontation, Hatton and Mayweather trading shoves and chest bumps once more after weighing-in.
Hatton walked onto the scales and stood sideways, staring down directly at Mayweather as the champion stared down at the scale reading. Mayweather looked ahead at the crowd when he climbed on the scales.
After that, Hatton walked over the scales to stand toe-to-toe with Hopkins, each bumping the other with his chest in an exchange that ended only when Hatton was grabbed from behind.
Hatton stood on the scales and waved dismissively at Mayweather walking away while the crowd cheered.
When Mayweather's sons brought their father's title belts onto the stage, Hatton asked the crowd, "Are you sick of the belts? Let's f...ing have 'em."
Spectators sang, "Walking in a Hatton Wonderland" and "God Save the Queen" and roared whenever Hatton swung a few punches in response to their cheers.
I hope Mayweather’s ego will push him into a brawl.
Hatton is going to give Mayweather a real fight.
Go Hatton!
Mayweather is going down. 6th round.
Mayweather by TKO, round 9.
Mayweather should have been training instead of dancing with the stars.
It will go the distance.
I say it is going to be a knockout win for Mayweather in the 10th round. My crystal ball just told me so (oh, wait a minute ....just watched the fight on tv. And to imagine for a moment i thought i was psychic)
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