Jose Luis Castillo and Ricky Hatton moved one step closer to fighting each other by securing wins against tougher than expected opponents at the Paris Resort in Las Vegas last night.

Hatton, 42-0 (30), had a little less tougher opponent than Castillo, but the muscular Urango still applied constant pressure and made Hatton work. Hatton started off giving the Columbian a boxing lesson, hitting him with clean long range punches and angling out of harm's way. But Urango kept coming forward and made the fight more competitive, if not more exciting. The fight lacked the drama of Castillo-Ngoudjo, and the last two rounds featured Hatton's ugly octopus-style of punch and hold, which won't win him too many American fans. Hatton was awarded a unanimous decision with scores of 119-109. I had it a little closer, at 117-111. Urango falls to 17-1-1 (13).

Castillo, 55-7-1, faced a quicker-fisted and game Herman Ngoudjo, A Cameroon-Canadian with only fifteen fights who pushed the Mexican to the brink in his first fight in 11 months. Castillo had to dig down deep for the win, hammering Ngdou to the body with left hooks and throwing uooercuts on the inside. Ngoudjo pulled away with a slight lead in the early rounds by using a busy jab and hitting Castillo with clean punches, but the fight was even going down to the wire, and Castillo eked out a split decision with scores of 115-112 (twice) for him and 115-112 for Ngoudjo. I had it 114-114. Castillo seemed a iittle less intense and perhaps took the fight lightly. He was fighting his first fight (officially) at 140 and will no doubt be sharper in his next fight, which may very well be against Hatton. Ngoudjo has his unbeaten record spoiled as he falls to 15-1, but his strong showing against such a seasoned veteran like Castillo earns him props and serves as a warning that he is not to betaken lightly.

Castillo-Hatton is a possibility for June 2nd or 23rd. It would be explosive, with two lethal bodypunchers tearing into each other at a hellacious pace. The fight could go the distance, but Castillo deserves the edge because of his punching power. But the naturally bigger Hatton might have what it takes to pressure Castillo and batter him into submission. Castillo's war with Corrales has left him a little vulnerable, and Hatton may be able to exploit that vulnerability.