SUPERSTAR Ricky Hatton is headlining in Las Vegas but it isn't so long ago he was launching his professional career on a Widnes undercard.
The bright lights of one of the world's most glamorous cities are again beckoning The Hitman after confirmation of his career-defining fight with Jose Castillo on June 23.
The IBF had named Lovemore N'dou as a mandatory challenger to Hatton, who has chosen to relinquish their version of the title to take the Castillo bout.
After outpointing Juan Urango in Vegas last month, Hatton will face the hard-hitting Mexican in the hope of extending a career record of 42 straight wins, 30 of them by knockout.
Boxing promoter Stephen Vaughan, now also owner of Widnes Vikings RLFC, well remembers the night Hatton announced himself on the scene.
His pro debut came at King-sway Leisure Centre, Widnes, in September 1997 against Colin 'The Kid' McAuley.
Hatton brushed aside the Doncaster Destroyer on a technical knockout in the first of the scheduled four rounds.
Vaughan was quick to spot Hatton's talent and potential as co-promoter of the world championship bill starring Runcorn's Robin Reid, which saw the Mancunian's first appearance.
'We could see it then that Ricky was going on to be a great boxer,' Vaughan told the Weekly News.
'He was young and hungry and it was that bill, which was put on by myself and Frank Warren's Sports Network, that give him the launchpad to what he is doing now.
'Ricky has gone onto to do big things and this fight with Castillo is going to be huge.'
Speaking before his last fight with Urango, Hatton recalled the time when he first stepped foot in the ring in Widnes.
'I used to fight in leisure centres', he said.
'And my supporters remember me fighting in working men's clubs, or my first pro fight at Widnes Leisure Centre, places like that.
'When they see my name up in lights, it makes me feel proud to know how they are going to feel.'
Meanwhile, Vaughan hinted world championship boxing could return to Widnes in the future.
'I would like to put something on', he said.
'I have world champion Derry Matthews in my stable and he is fighting at the Olympia in Liverpool in March.
'He is a great up-and-coming boxer who is destined for big things.
'He knocked Steve Foster Junior out to win the WBU featherweight title belt and he has got a great future ahead of him.
'And there are possibilities of doing something in the future in the town as we have not had world championship boxing here for years.
'But would that be supported? We have a huge stadium with the Vikings and we still need people to get down there to support their hometown club.
'That's what's needed before boxing is going to go ahead.'
