On Saturday, June 23, 2007, Ricky Hatton and Jose Luis Castillo will get it on at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, and the bout will be seen on HBO’s World Championship Boxing.

“Hitman” Hatton (42-0, 30 KOs) from Manchester, England will take on Jose Luis“El Temible” Castillo (55-7-1, 47 KOs) Hermosillo, Mexico.

The battlers, both in need of an impressive victory to keep their careers on an upward track, will fight at 140 pounds.

Both men have had, shall we say, scale issues, so much of the lead-in to the bout will focus on poundage.

Promoter Art Pelullo said today, “Ricky Hatton and Jose Luis Castillo are not only the top two jr. welterweights in the world, they are two of the most exciting fighters in the ring today at any weight. This fight has to potential to be one of the best of the year and one that will be remembered by fight fans for years to come.”

Hatton is currently The Ring’s jr. welterweight world champion, as well as a former two-time world titlist at jr. welterweight, and a former world titlist at welterweight. Castillo is currently ranked No. 1 by The Ring and a former two-time WBC lightweight world titlist.

***material compiled with promotional release