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LAS VEGAS: If Floyd Mayweather's welterweight title bout with Ricky Hatton is half as good as the weigh-in, boxing fans are in for a remarkable finish to a strong year.
From the floor to the ceiling, one end of the MGM Grand Garden Arena was packed with 5,930 singing, whistling, clapping fans. About 5,929 seemed to be supporting Hatton, the wildly popular underdog — including the small brass band sponsored by a British newspaper.
"There's only onnnnnnne Ricky Hatton!" they sang relentlessly — and when Hatton finally took the stage, they roared approval.
Mayweather ascended to the scales with fellow "Dancing With the Stars" contestants Wayne Newton and Helio Castroneves holding his belts. Mayweather's two sons, 7-year-old Shamaree and 8-year-old Koraun, also held up belts won by their famous father — but not even the kids could deflect the boos.
"That was amazing," said Castroneves, the Brazilian two-time Indianapolis 500 champion who won the TV dance contest. "I was right behind Wayne, in case something goes wrong. ... At least they were more organized than Brazilian soccer fans. They'll be singing one thing over here, and one thing over there, and they don't get it together like that."
Hatton, a longtime junior welterweight, weighed in at 145 pounds (66 kilograms), while Mayweather hit the limit of 147 pounds (67 kilograms).
"Floyd only has one fan!" the crowd sang while Mayweather flexed.
Ring announcer Michael Buffer even got in a crack, drawing boos when he claimed President Bush had called Vegas in concern.
"The last time this many British invaded America, it was 1812 and you burned down the White House!" Buffer said.
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HOPKINS-CALZAGHE HEATS UP: Though Bernard Hopkins and Joe Calzaghe haven't even agreed to fight next year, they're already going toe-to-toe.
Hopkins and Calzaghe had never met before Friday, but they confronted each other in the press room and again on the weigh-in stage. The scuffles — and a racially tinged remark by Hopkins — piqued already strong interest in the veteran fighters' potential meeting next summer at Yankee Stadium or another East Coast outdoor venue.
The fighters traded insults in both venues, but Hopkins provided the last word in the press room.
"I will never let a white boy beat me. Never," Hopkins said to Calzaghe, who only laughed.
Hopkins, the longtime middleweight champion who stunned Winky Wright in a light heavyweight bout in July, has been calling out the unbeaten Welsh champion for five months, anticipating a cross-cultural clash that could generate all the interest of Mayweather's fight with Hatton.
Earlier, Hopkins vented his frustration about the fighters' inability to reach a deal. Hopkins claims Golden Boy Promotions offered a 50-50 revenue split with Calzaghe, who was rebuffed by Hopkins earlier this week after requesting a private meeting with The Executioner.
"When did Joe ever leave his neighborhood to fight?" Hopkins asked of Calzaghe, who has never fought in North America. "It's 'World Champion.' Come out of your element and see how you function. Come out of Europe. ... I'm already who I am. Joe needs that American icon on his resume. Right now, all he has is Jeff Lacy."
After chasing a fight with Hopkins for years, Calzaghe (44-0) has expressed frustration with the pace of negotiations between Golden Boy and famed British promoter Frank Warren, claiming Golden Boy's offers are unacceptable. Calzaghe said he's more than willing to make the trip across the Atlantic for the fight Hopkins already has dubbed "Independence Day."
"I just came out to support Ricky, but this has been a bonus," said Calzaghe, who unified the 168-pound (76-kilogram) division with a thrilling unanimous decision over Mikkel Kessler last month.
"Bernard doesn't scare me in the slightest. I'm undefeated for 17 years. Look at his face, and look at my face. He's 43, and he can't fight any more. I still don't think he'll fight me. I think he's just talking. If he does fight me, he knows what'll happen."
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OSCAR'S CALL: Add Oscar De La Hoya to the list of fight fans who wonder if Mayweather is less than focused on Hatton.
Sure, De La Hoya has a vested interest in sparking belief in Hatton, since the Golden Boy is co-promoting the fight with Mayweather's company. But De La Hoya believes Mayweather might have reached his highest summit with a split-decision victory in their fight in May.
"He wanted that fight so bad for so many years," De La Hoya said. "Now, in his mind, his next fight is Ricky Hatton. In his mind, he's saying, 'He doesn't have a chance.' ... You start losing that focus, because you're on top of the world, because you were just involved with the biggest fight in the history of the sport. You sometimes tend to think, 'I'll change things up a little. Hatton can't be that tough.'"
Mayweather's alteration of his usual fight-week training schedule and his regular complaints about his aching body have prompted many to wonder if the champion is fully ready. Mayweather was incredibly trim at Friday's weigh-in, showing off a chiseled six-pack.
"He's got to find other things to motivate him," Hopkins said. "One of those things was 'Dancing With the Stars,' and I don't know if that's a good one."
