The poster art for the fight between Jose Luis Castilllo and Ricky Hatton asks, "A British Invasion Or Mexican Revolution?" It may well be both. With both fighters promising to throw punches in bunches in close, without taking a backward step, Castillo-Hatton could turn Las Vegas' Thomas & Mack Center into a warzone tomorrow night.

After lacklustre decision victories by both fighters in January--Castillo versus Herman Ngoudjo and Hatton against Juan Urango--and despite the fact that those opponents were very good and game, "El Temible" and "The Hitman" have a lot to prove. Castillo, 55-7-1 (47), is looking for a meaningful win after his failure to make weight in his 2005 rematch with Diego Corrales, and again for the 2006 rubber match, which was cancelled and resulted in Castillo being fined and forced to fight at a higher weight. Corrales' untimely death in May means that Castillo-Corrales will forever be known as the one-hit wonder of their first fantastic fight, and not the scintillating trilogy it should have been destined to become. Castillo needed Corrales to make him great, and vice versa.

Enter Hatton. The British warrior who shocked everyone by outworking and stopping Kostya Tszyu in 2005 has not yet matched that performance. Hatton, 42-0 (30)--although he stopped a tricky and dangerous Carlos Maussa in his next fight--tested the welterweight waters in 2006 and was nearly drowned by slick southpaw Luis Collazo. Still undefeated, Hatton yearns to win over the American fight fans, and he knows that another stinker will kiss that idea goodbye.

So Hatton and Castillo need eachother. Both fighters admire and are aware of each other's come-forward style, and are counting on it in the ring. Hatton is a strong bodypuncher with a decent chin. He is a good boxer and uses angles well, though is prone to sloppiness, holding, and dirty tactics. Castillo has a more polished style, but like Hatton, has a habit of neglecting his defence. He is a bigger puncher and the owner of a vicious left hook. Also like Hatton, he likes to fight in a phone booth. His chin is strong, but if Hatton relentlessly pressures Castillo the way he did Tsyzu, the wars with Corrales might take a toll on Castillo if the fight is particularly brutal.

Castillo is fighting for more than just a $500,000 purse. he is fighting for his recently deceased brother, Cesar, and for the memory of combatant-in-arms Corrales. He is fighting to vindicate himself from last year's debacle. He is fighting for respect. Hatton's quest for fame and glory in America means he must put on a sensational performance. It could be the type of fight where both men come out as winners, no matter what the outcome.

Prediction: Castillo by split decision