BOXING/IBO world light-welterweight fight:When a fighter attains the levels of warrior ferocity, technical excellence and sheer bloody-minded bulldog bravery as that exemplified by Ricky Hatton when he subdued Kostya Tszyu two years ago in Manchester, it is inevitable that he should then be judged only by the highest standards.

Despite maintaining his unbeaten professional record, Hatton had stuttered and stumbled in his three subsequent contests since that intoxicating night to the extent that it would have been reasonable to presume he had already peaked. But that theory was blown away magnificently at the Thomas and Mack Center on Saturday as one thunderous Hatton body-shot reduced the Mexican puncher Jose Luis Castillo to rubble as he was counted out, on one knee and in agony, after two minutes 16 seconds of the fourth round.

The irony was that the former world lightweight champion Castillo, a 33-year-old veteran of 63 fights, was the man who traded on the reputation of a much-vaunted left hook.

It was he, the experts had reasoned, who might have had the single-punch power to negate all that Hatton's strength and incessant pressure might achieve as he attempted to defend his IBO world light-welterweight title.

One shot, it was argued, could halt all Hatton's momentum. But instead, it was Hatton who delivered what his trainer, Billy Graham, described as "the best punch of his career".

"You can't prepare for shots like that," said Graham of the blow Hatton had delivered around the back of Castillo's right elbow, smashing into the Mexican to leave him chewing on his gum shield in agony as he took the count. "We were expecting a possible war. But what a punch it was, and the crowd loved it," Graham added.

Castillo's promoter, Bob Arum, paid tribute to Hatton.

"He can be a major, major world star. He is English-speaking and he has magnificent fans. I congratulate Ricky Hatton. The shot you saw . . . I have been in boxing 42 years and only five times have I seen the liver shot thrown so well. Once you get hit that way, the guy don't breathe for 30 seconds. It is better than one to the chin, it is the perfect shot."

Wayne Rooney, playfully jeered by some of Hatton's Manchester City-loving fans when he walked into the arena, had proudly carried one of his friend's belts into the ring as Hatton arrived to tumultuous acclaim.

Later the Manchester United striker would speak of his sense of honour at being part of an occasion where the presence of many big-name footballers, like Rio Ferdinand and Joe Cole, as well as the singer Robbie Williams, had contributed to the showbiz feel of the event and the sense that, at last, Hatton had arrived.

Hatton had taken the opening two rounds, more through aggression than stringing his most telling punches together.

As the two held and mauled, with heads bumping and boring, the referee Joe Cortez was forced to tell both men to clean up their acts before an eye-catching third round saw the fighters at their best.

Twice, Hatton had visited America and caused little more than a ripple of interest, but one fight has now changed that.

Guardian Service