Good article.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/...296262,00.html
Tension is mounting in Las Vegas as Ricky Hatton prepares to take on Floyd Mayweather in the the biggest fight in British boxing for a decade. Hatton and Mayweather face off British boxing fans are backing the "Hitman" Hatton to the tune of millions of pounds.
Bookmaker William Hill says punters have staked up to £20m on the fight, with the overwhelming majority of it on Hatton to win the world welterweight title. It makes it the biggest ever gamble on a British sporting individual.
More than 18,000 British fans will cheer on Hatton in the early hours of Sunday as the undefeated Manchester-based fighter goes head-to-head with the American, who is also unbeaten. Three thousand of his "travelling army" will be inside the MGM Grand Arena, while 15,000 more will be watching on closed circuit TV around the Strip. William Hill said victory for Hatton would cost the (gambling) industry £20m.
Tension is mounting in Las Vegas as Ricky Hatton prepares to take on Floyd Mayweather in the the biggest fight in British boxing for a decade.Hatton and Mayweather face offBritish boxing fans are backing the "Hitman" Hatton to the tune of millions of pounds.
Bookmaker William Hill says punters have staked up to £20m on the fight, with the overwhelming majority of it on Hatton to win the world welterweight title. It makes it the biggest ever gamble on a British sporting individual. More than 18,000 British fans will cheer on Hatton in the early hours of Sunday as the undefeated Manchester-based fighter goes head-to-head with the American, who is also unbeaten. Three thousand of his "travelling army" will be inside the MGM Grand Arena, while 15,000 more will be watching on closed circuit TV around the Strip. William Hill said victory for Hatton would cost the industry £20m.
Spokesman Graham Sharpe said: "If Hatton triumphs it won't only be Mayweather who is flat out on the canvas - the bookies will be down there with him, bleeding cash. "It will be the worst day's work for bookies since Frankie Dettori won all seven races at Ascot and cost the industry £40m. "We are seeing four and five-figure bets for Ricky like they were going out of style." Hatton is a 13/8 chance to beat the 1/2 favourite. Ladbrokes have the Briton at 11/8 and Mayweather 4/7. In Las Vegas, tickets for the arena are said to be changing hands for £1,500.
On the eve of the showdown the 29-year-old former carpet fitter said winning the bout would fulfil a dream. He said: "This is what I dreamed of. I could have stayed at home in my backyard, defending a lesser title in Manchester in front of loads of fans. "But this is the challenge I want." Thousands of Hatton fans have also backed him to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award on Sunday.