The hitman and heir

Thanks to boxing’s alphabet soup of administrative bodies, Ricky Hatton and Sharmba Mitchell, holders of the WBU and IBF titles, will not box in a unification fight, the prospect of which has stimulated Hatton’s fans to salivate for many months.

Instead, the two fighters will probably meet only in the corridor as they make their way to and from their separate dressing-rooms. Hatton will take on Brazilian dangerman Kelson Pinto, pictured, in the main event, while Mitchell will defend his title in the chief supporting bout against Mike ‘No Joke’ Stewart.

Manchester’s boxing enthusiasts and those watching on Sky Sports will have a rare chance to compare two boxers some months before they meet in the ring, as Mitchell and Hatton will surely get it on this summer, if Junior Witter can be persuaded to keep out of Hatton’s way for just a little longer.

Hatton’s performance against Ben Tackie in December was the finest technical display by a British boxer last year, rivalled only by Scott Harrison’s awesome mastering of Wayne McCullough. It was proof that The Hitman could not only bang, but possessed the full array of skills necessary for a great champion to flourish. Even the great Kostya Tszyu, the Russian-born Australian who is recognised as No.1 at the weight, would have struggled to cope with Hatton on that form.

So why are more than a few people worried about his latest bout against Pinto, which is not a defence of his WBU title, but something called the WBO interim world championship - yet another piece of alphabetti-spaghetti nonsense produced by a ruling body.

Amazingly, the WBO have Pinto ranked as their No.1 contender, while Hatton is ranked at four: most other ranking organisations have Pinto placed considerably below Hatton, though he will tower above the Mancunian in another sense come Saturday.

The Brazilian is tall for his weight of 10 stones, standing just about six feet in his stocking soles compared to Hatton’s 5ft 7ins. Like Hatton, Pinto does not face weight problems, but unlike the angular Mancunian, his handsome looks have made him a pin-up in his homeland.

It was no surprise when the former world light- middleweight champion turned promoter, Oscar de la Hoya, signed him to his stable, as one Golden Boy surely knows another. Yet though he is 27 and is two years older than Hatton, Pinto has fought only 21 times since he turned professional comparatively late in life just four years ago, albeit after a glittering amateur career in which he stopped 60 of his 94 opponents. He is unbeaten as a pro, has won on a knockout or stoppage 19 times, and for all that he possesses a renowned punch, Pinto can also box.

Compared to Hatton, however, he is a relative novice, having been to the tenth round just three times, and he has never fought a 12-rounder, unlike the similarly-unbeaten Hatton, who has gone 12 rounds four times, and who has consistently faced a better class of opponent in his 34 fights, 25 of which have ended in a stoppage.

The only worry that Hatton should have about Pinto is his punch, which is presumably what gained him his nickname ‘Fera’. The word apparently translates as ‘wild animal’ in Brazilian Portuguese dialect, but is also Portuguese for ‘injure’. Of his 21 contests, 15 ended inside two rounds, thanks to Pinto’s knockout blow. He has also won titles, though this is his first crack at a so-called world championship.

The former Brazilian welterweight champion dropped in weight to win his national light-welterweight title, and later added the WBO Latino light-welterweight title.

In February last year, the useful American, Richard Savage, lasted less than two rounds with Pinto as the Brazilian won the NABO light-welterweight title - and Savage has not fought since, suggesting that Pinto really hurt him.

But last year, the durable Emanuel Augustus, who had been in with the likes of Floyd Mayweather and Micky Ward in his long career, took Pinto the full ten rounds, suggesting that unless he can put his man away early on, his punching power may diminish as the fight wears on.

He will also never have fought a man quite so relentless in pursuit of an opponent as Hatton. The Hitman should watch out for the big early boomers, and should certainly watch his cut-prone eyebrows, but he will still have enough power and skill to dispose of the Brazilian comfortably.

On the undercard, a great deal of interest will be centred on the collision involving Mitchell, the former WBA light-welterweight champion, who fights Michael Stewart for the IBF interim world title. This will be Mitchell’s British debut, and since he is invariably being talked about as "Hatton’s next man up", he is anxious to put on a show.

"I’m coming to England to eclipse Hatton," said Mitchell. "I’ve seen Ricky in action many times. I think he’s a good fighter and creates an electric atmosphere when he fights, but the Brits haven’t seen me live in action yet. Hatton will be a hard act to beat especially in his home city, but I’m exciting and have a KO punch that I’m sure the fans will love. I’m looking forward to fighting at the MEN Arena to show the boxing fans exactly what I can do."

Nicknamed the ‘Little Big Man’, Mitchell has been a pro for 15 years. He lost his WBA title to Tszyu in 2001, but only because he tore ligaments in his knee during the fight. He still desires another shot at glory at the age of 33, and Hatton would provide that.

"I would love to fight Ricky," he declared, "and a knockout win against Stewart on the night will get the fans and public talking about a Mitchell-Hatton fight."

Also on a cracking bill, Michael Gomez will reap his reward for conquering Alex Arthur with a shot at the vacant WBU super-featherweight. He will fight the tough Ghanaian, Eric Odumasi, who took Scott Harrison to 12 rounds before losing his Commonwealth featherweight championship in Belfast in 2000.

If Gomez has maintained his training discipline, he should win, but Odumasi is no mug and travels well, as he showed in defeating Craig Spacie in Nottingham in September.

The British welterweight title will also be contested on the night, by the exciting and unbeaten David Barnes, who will still find it difficult against Glenn McClarnon, who hails from Lurgan in Northern Ireland.