The acclaim for Ricky Hatton’s achievement in stopping one of
the most efficient body punchers of the modern era quickly and
efficiently, with a perfect sickener to the liver of Jose Luis Castillo,
ought to be chimed out for some time.
You could almost feel the crunch of ribs from row 10. Anything
less than wholehearted recognition, and justice to a great British
sportsman will not have been fairly given out.
The detractors will say Castillo is shot as a fighter, has had too
many ring wars, but boxing is no game.
It is a sport in which you do not get paid extra-time, and Hatton
was in the mood to clock off early.
In doing so, he has propelled himself into other potential
superfights, on Home Box Office, the American cable giants.
Hatton had not prepared to fail in this fight, dominating from the
opening bell, before Castillo 
let loose a couple of low blows, for
which he was eventually deducted a point.
"There’s only one Ricky Hatton", chanted over 10,000 British fans,
accompanied by a brass band, horns and drums.
This was England versus Mexico, northern grit versus machismo,
and now Hatton's fans can celebrate.
Indeed, they have never witnessed him lose in 43 professional
fights, and can look forward to even greater nights ahead.
If the big names, like Floyd Mayweather, continue to show a lack
of interest, it is likely that they have decided Hatton is best avoided.
Hatton, clearly, is more motivated the harder opponent. This
fight, and the light-welterweight title at home two years ago
against Kostya Tszyu, have clearly been Hatton's defining fights
to date.
"I think tonight was a bit more of my best," Hatton said. "I don't
think there was the excitement in my last two fights as there was
tonight."
Hatton ended Castillo with a left hook to the body midway through
the fourth round. Castillo took a step and then spun around, and
went down to one knee, where he took the count from referee
Joe Cortez without getting to his feet.
Castillo simply could not breathe. In this desert city where
punters are looking for the one hit to bring them their fortune,
Hatton's singular blow has made the world his oyster.
Talkative, charismatic - admired by other sportsmen like Wayne
Rooney, who carried Hatton's belt into the ring, for which Hatton
wore a blue sombrero and ponches, and remains one of the
greatest British sporting role models to compete abroad.
Hatton, who earned a reported $2.5 million US dollars,
commented after the fight: "I'm sorry I beat one of your heroes
tonight, but hopefully his fans can become my fans.” Britain - and
Mexico - now expect.