Circle the date ... April 3 ... a meeting of unbeatens traveling the fast lane on a collision course ... Ricky Hatton with 32 wins and 24 knockouts facing equally unsoiled Kelson Pinto sporting 20 wins and 18 via KO.

Hardly ever see it anymore ... a pair of futures going head to head at this stage ... especially when that brass ring and pot of gold are no more than half-step away.

Hatton has taken the better scalps to date ... Vince "Cool" Phillips at age 37 but not a gimme ... Tackie a tough cookie as well ... and the progression from a walk in banger has begun to focus ... remains exciting to watch ... and has added a twist of lateral movement to the offense.

And the Brazilian ... Pinto ... appears as something of a latter day Tommy Hearns - well, in size and punching power - tall, physical and always in search of the knockout.  

As for the Hatton + Pinto = equation ... tough call is best I can do ... hopefully, these two young throwbacks will be trend setters ... in a fistic evolution ... and followed by the "talkers" of the division weaned off the pugilistic pablum.

****** Early moments could be vital in this one ... choice is yours ... Pinto with the bigger batteries ... Hatton countering with the gattlin' gun ... and to both a well earned salute for making it a happening.

GEL     

3-10-2004