Boxing: Hatton Will Dedicate Castillo Fight to Corrales

Ricky Hatton says he will dedicate his forthcoming defence of the International Boxing Organisation world light-welterweight title, against Mexico's José Luis Castillo, to the memory of Diego Corrales, who has been killed in a motorbike accident close to his home in Las Vegas.

Corrales, 29, was best known for his three fights against the Cuban-born Joel Casamayor, one of which he won to take the WBO super-featherweight title, and two with Castillo, the first of which he won to claim the WBC and WBO lightweight titles. He had been mentioned as a potential opponent for Hatton.

"I am shocked to the core," said Hatton. "He was a real fighter's fighter and I'm going to speak to Castillo to see if we can both dedicate our fight to his memory."

Corrales' manager and promoter, Gary Shaw, explained that his fighter had run into the back of a car and had been fatally injured when he was thrown clear of his motorbike. Shaw said: "He fought recklessly and lived recklessly. That was his style. He always cared about the fans, and gave them their money's worth. He was what boxing's all about."

Hatton v Castillo will be televised by Setanta Sports on June 23, ending a career-long association between Hatton and Sky. The BBC is understood to be negotiating to show delayed coverage of the contest at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. With 6½ weeks to go, Hatton said yesterday that he has lost about half a stone and is currently 11st 3lb, 17lb over the light-welterweight limit.

"I have drunk less Guinness and eaten fewer pork pies," Hatton joked. Critics questioned his lifestyle after he ballooned to around 13½ stone before his last fight, against Juan Urango in January. "I've really got the bit between my teeth, because this is going to be a real fight, unlike some," said the undefeated 29-year-old Mancunian. "Urango was so negative that it was impossible for me to look good, but I know Castillo always comes to fight and he believes he can beat me. This is going to be a war."

On the same bill, Sheffield's Clinton Woods defends his IBF light heavyweight world title against Julio González, whom he beat on points two years ago.