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WORLD SPORT

Hatton takes WBA welterweight belt

story.hatton.jpg
A battered and bruised Hatton shows off his new WBA welterweight belt.

BOSTON, Massachusetts -- Briton Ricky Hatton added the world welterweight title to his haul of titles with a unanimous points decision over WBA champion Luis Collazo over 12 bruising rounds in Boston.

Hatton, who stepped up from light welterweight to improve his record to 41-0, floored Collazo after just 15 seconds and had him bleeding from the mouth and forehead throughout.

In a tight contest, Hatton was ahead on all three cards -- 115-112, 115-112, 114-113 -- to give the pride of Manchester the belt to add to his light welterweight world titles.

"He was stronger than I thought he would be," Hatton said. "It's a good test at a new weight. I need to grow into this new weight. This was my first fight at 147lbs and it was a title fight. I'll get better."

"I'll fight absolutely anybody and that includes a rematch with Luis," Hatton said after the tight verdict.

"It's up to the teams to get together and do it. Yeah, why not? He hurt me several times in the fight -- I'm man enough to admit it."

After Hatton floored his heavier opponent, Collazo produced the more venomous selection of punches and almost put his rival on the canvas in a thrilling final round.

Hatton fought the last three rounds with a severe swelling under his left eye, but never bled from the injury.

"Hatton was out on his feet in the 12th," said Collazo. "I thought I out-boxed him and was stronger. I thought a guy had to do more than he did to take my title.

"He didn't do enough to win the fight. I'm the champion and he's the challenger."

Collazo, who fell to 26-2 with the loss, started the second defense of the title in shaky fashion. He said he was caught by a Hatton left after the referee told the fighter to break, but he rallied and took the entertaining bout to Hatton.

"I think there should be an immediate rematch and I'll see everybody back in England," he added.

Prior to the fight, a moment of silence was observed by the crowd of 7,915 for former heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson, who died on Thursday at the age of 71.

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