Juan Urango is built like a champion, but the IBF junior welterweight titleholder has little chance against Ricky Hatton. Photo by Jane Kalinowsky.

There has to be a bodybuilding contest somewhere that Juan Urango can win. The guy is built like a 140-pound version of Mr. Olympia.

It's too bad there isn't one scheduled, because he would fare a lot better than he will tonight against Ricky Hatton.

The affable Brit is a 7-1 favorite for their IBF junior welterweight title fight at Paris Las Vegas, though Urango is the reigning champion.

There is a reason Hatton is 7-1 odds, even though Urango (17-0-1, 13 knockouts) is unbeaten.

You can see it in Hatton's face.

He has won money at the gaming tables. He has downed a few pints with friends and fans in the pubs. He has charmed everyone he has come into contact with and has given the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority a year's worth of material in a few days.

The only problem Hatton may have is getting out of Las Vegas on Thursday and returning home to Manchester, England. He has become beloved here so quickly, he might not be allowed to leave.

His face tells the story of a confident, content young man poised to succeed Oscar De La Hoya as boxing's biggest star.

Not even De La Hoya has Hatton's combination of eye-grabbing style, self-deprecating humor and natural charisma.

His in-ring style is so entertaining that former lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo, whose 2005 bout with Diego Corrales is perhaps the greatest fight ever, said of him, "He fights like a Mexican."

There is no bigger compliment coming from a Mexican fighter than to say one fights like a Mexican.

You can see the outcome of the fight in Urango's face, too. His face tells the story of a guy stuck in unfamiliar surroundings, awed by the hoopla, overcome by the moment.

He says all the requisite things -- he's in the best shape of his life, he's coming to win, not just to earn a payday -- but he doesn't sound convincing.

He doesn't have to convince anyone he's in shape, because that's obvious from looking at his chiseled physique.

But as the thousands of British fans who have descended upon Las Vegas have learned the hard way through Frank Bruno, a chiseled physique guarantees only that you'll look good while supine.

Don't expect Urango to wind up on his back, but don't expect an upset, either. He's a tough kid, but his style is Hatton's style. Hatton has the better chin, the shiftier feet and the wider assortment of punches.

Hatton is no Floyd Mayweather Jr., but he insists his boxing skills are underrated.

"It wouldn't make sense to box Floyd," Hatton said, "but ... "

But, he should have added, Urango is no Mayweather. Urango will be in front of him all night, relentlessly pressing forward while absorbing more and more punishment.

"I can box from distance if need be," said Hatton (41-0, 30 KOs). "But I usually don't take too many backward steps. Neither does Juan. This will be my kind of a fight."

After a while, that's going to take its toll on Urango.

It's clearly Ricky Hatton's show, even though he went to great pains to apologize to Urango for any slights when, breaking from boxing protocol, the champion was asked to speak first at Thursday's news conference.

Urango insisted he took no offense, though maybe it would have been nice to see fire from him.

He, you can bet, will see fire from Hatton. The challenger will be fighting his fourth consecutive world champion -- he has disposed of Kostya Tszyu, Carlos Maussa and Luis Collazo in his previous three outings -- and said, "I've got no need for those handpicked mandatories."

His trainer, Billy Graham, scoffed at the notion that Hatton has anything yet to prove.

"Those of you who are doubting him, you won't be for much longer," Graham said.

Hatton is far too smart to be drawn into a war of words with Mayweather. Hatton has enough of an ego to believe he could defeat the man most consider the world's best, and he has a unique way of getting his point across.

But he has become beloved in his homeland -- and now in Las Vegas -- by walking the fine line between confidence and bragging.

He gives Mayweather the credit due his vast skills but suggests Mayweather could never stir the passion in fans the way some fighters (notably Hatton) do.

"If you've seen Floyd once, you've seen him a million times," Hatton said. "Nothing changes. All his fights are the same. They're a bit like watching chess, I'd say. Chess is a great game, mind you, but I'd rather watch a fight."

Ricky Hatton is going to give 7,000 or so of his closest friends a fight tonight at Paris Las Vegas. Perhaps that's why Juan Urango looks so worried.

Kevin Iole's boxing column is published Saturday. He can be reached at 396-4428 or kiole@reviewjournal.com.