7th December - Shut your eyes on the Las Vegas Strip, let the hollering Hatton chants and the sound of thousands of ring-pulls being simultaneously opened on cans of lager, and you could be forgiven for thinking a little part of Manchester has been transported Stateside.

The Brits are here, a sea of light blue Lonsdale, desperate to be a part of one of the biggest boxing events in the country's history even if they stand less chance of seeing any live action than their Guinness-supping hero does of going teetotal.

In the breakfast buffet bar they are confusing the poor man on the omelette station no end, playing havoc with his well-drilled four pans at once operation by demanding fried eggs instead, sunny side up.

Ricky Hatton must be slavering at the mouth at the thought of a good old greasy spoon, his pre-fight meal of choice until the opponents got tougher and his dietician insisted that powder and monkey glands were a more tasty alternative.

Now only a tantalising two days away from being able to stuff his face and down a few pints, there is a quiet air of impatience about Hatton, who spent most of Thursday strolling around the media centre seemingly looking for a chat.

It had been his trainer Billy Graham's turn earlier to hold court, something Graham, for all his reputation as a no-nonsense Manchester hard-man, clearly loathes.

Roger Mayweather had a better idea. He just didn't bother to turn up, at least sparing the assembled hordes more expletive-ridden rants, but denying us details of how his nephew is spending his final pre-fight hours.

Later, it was time for another tenuous investigative trip. This time Hatton's repeated assertion that he will be like "a bull at the gate" on Saturday night prompted us to following the stetson brigade to the Thomas & Mack Center.

The National Rodeo Finals are in town, each night of 10 a complete sell-out, and threatening even to drown out the thousands of Hatton fans.

After three hours of calf roping, saddle-bronco-ing amd steer wrestling came the coup de grace - the moment when the bulls are let loose one at a time to buck their riders high into the artificial light.

Good news for Hatton: most of the time, the bull came off best.

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