IF RICKY HATTON is going to become the star that British boxing hopes, this year will be make or break. After making his way on to the world scene with a string of impressive stoppages in 2001, Hatton, 24, saw his progress stall last year through little fault of his own. He was dumped on the seat of his shorts on the way to recording his most significant victory to date, over Eamonn Magee in June, and two subsequent victories proved nothing.

Stephen Smith was disqualified when his father jumped into the ring to remonstrate with the referee, then Joe Hutchinson, a late replacement, was swept away with a series of body shots. That left a frustrated Hatton, who is unbeaten in 31 contests, still answering questions about his potential vulnerabilities.

Hatton is too much of a boxing aficionado to believe that his WBU light-welterweight crown, which will be on the line at the MEN Arena, Manchester, tonight, is a “real” world title, but Vince Phillips is the best boxer he has faced.

At 39, Phillips may be past his best, but he was a world champion in 1999 and is the only man to have beaten Kostya Tszyu, the outstanding Russian-born Australian.

A series of disruptions resulted in Phillips arriving in Britain only on Tuesday. First, Phillips split with Sugar Ray Leonard, the former multi-world champion, who was his promoter. Then he was unable to get a passport because of unpaid alimony. So worried was Frank Warren, the promoter, that a replacement opponent, Aldo Rios, was flown in from Argentina just in case.

None of this can have done much to help Phillips’s preparation and should he be less than ready, Hatton’s mean body punching will sweep him away. Victory tonight should set up a July date with Junior Witter, Hatton’s domestic rival, who meets Jurgen Haeck, of Belgium, on the same bill.

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