Boxer Hatton the hero at raucous weigh-in for the ages

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2007

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) — Just listening to the crowd, you would have sworn it was Manchester United playing at Old Trafford.

Instead, it was Manchester's Ricky Hatton drawing cheers in a song-filled weigh-in for the ages here Friday ahead of the undefeated Englishman's welterweight showdown Saturday with unbeaten US champion Floyd Mayweather.

The boisterous atmosphere came from a rowdy crowd of 5,930 that jammed the MGM Grand Arena for hours to watch a weigh-in, nearly all of them cheering for Hatton and booing Mayweather, the defending World Boxing Council champion.

"Fatty's going to get you," the British fans roared to Mayweather, whose throat-slashing gesture in response drew jeers.

Hatton, 43-0 with 31 knockouts, weighed in at 145 pounds while...