November 2008
Saturday 17th November 2008, page 27 of the Manchester Evening News the head line read “Win the trip of a lifetime to see Ricky fight in Las Vegas”……
One lucky winner will win a three night trip for two to Las Vegas leaving on Thursday staying in the MGM Grand Casino and tickets to the eagerly anticipated clash between The Hitman and Pauli “The Magic” Malignaggie next Saturday. All you have to do is answer this question: Who is the only fighter to beat Ricky Hatton?
Answer: Floyd Mayweather Junior (the junior bit being the most crucial as his father was also a boxer and now a trainer).
And this is how it all began………………………. I had sent the competition using hubs email address as I felt that would be *“lucky”, I gave full contact details and clicked send.
Later my son asked if we would be getting the fight next week and hubs said yes, when he left the living room I said, “if I win it you will have to go and take him, it would seem wrong for me to take up a seat watching the boxing when I don’t have any real interest”. And that is what happened I won. The competition was in the paper on the Saturday, the following Monday (yes just two days later) the winner would receive a phone call at 5.00pm to tell them they had won. I went to work as usual and just as I was turning off my pc, the phone rang it was hubs in shock, I managed to get the good news that we had won, and after assuring him that our sons passport was in date, he made the phone call to said Son to tell him that no we wouldn’t be ordering the fight on sky, because he would be attending, I seem to remember his reply went something like this @#x$ @$$, which under the circumstances was an understandable reaction. He had just started a new job and had to double check that booking holiday leave at such short notice was ok, and they very kindly signed his leave card. Hubs being a self employed painter and decorator left a hall, stairs and landing in Heaton Chapel, Stockport, half done. Over the next couple of days English pounds were changed for US dollars (I raided the Christmas savings for this) passports dusted off, weather reports checked (at least 9 hours of sunshine even in November) and two large holdalls were packed. The flight tickets and Hotel confirmation arrived on the Wednesday, The taxi was booked for 7.30am for Thursday and the boys were off.
The rest of the story should really be told by the boys themselves but as this is my book I’ll do the telling based on the stories that flowed from their jetlagged jibber jabber.
Ricky Hatton in Vegas – the boys story
Thursday
My son tells me his dad was in complete shock from our house in the taxi to the airport and on checking in their luggage must have looked at the date on his passport at least six times. My husband tells me our son was in stunned silence in the taxi and for most of the first flight. They boarded their first flight which was from Manchester to Chicago, and enjoyed various in-flight movies, nice food and attentive flight staff. From Chicago they flew to Las Vegas, I am told they shared a taxi with a couple from Liverpool who were also there to see the fight, though not staying at the MGM Grand, and grand it certainly was, they handed in their confirmation and in return were given a swipe cards for their room with Ricky and Pauli on, the hotel has over 5,000 rooms, they stayed on the 10th floor at the end of a very long corridor. On opening the door to what would be their room for the next three nights, shock was the first thing that registered, the splendour, which to be honest must have been a major culture shock to them both, I mean as nice as Welsh seaside Bed and Breakfast are, well they are not quite the MGM Grand.
They had a queen sized bed each and the bathroom was three times the size of the one we have at home. They spruced themselves up and were out “on the strip” just soaking in the atmosphere and warmth of the place, wearing shorts (it had been freezing when they left Manchester, and amazingly they had seen snow in Chicago on the first leg of their journey, then into Vegas and sunshine) it seemed like madness. They ate at “Dicks last Resort” and had chicken and ribs, unfortunately as Son wasn’t yet 21 he couldn’t drink so it was cokes for him, he said he didn’t mind he wanted to keep his head clear to take in as much of this wonderful “Once in a lifetime” experience as he could.
Friday
After a breakfast in a local diner, they set off for a day of exploring.
The treasure island with a full sized galleon complete with real actors and actresses, the Hard rock hotel, we actually walked to this and just as we got there the free bus was pulling in.
Saturday
Up early to try out the MGM Grand Buffet, costing just $25 a piece it sounded like an experience not to be missed. The dining area was the biggest they had ever seen, on starting off with fresh orange juice (to be counted as one of your five) next they went for a cooked breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, tomatoes, prawns, chop sui, ribs, chicken curry, fried rice, fahittas, chapattis, poached salmon, and when (and only when) we only had the room to have a coffee.
My husband thought they might be ejected from the dining area on two counts of greed and offending the locals. Not to mention eating at least two days worth of food in one sitting, still I think we can safely say they got their moneys worth.
Even a light stroll was out of the question, so they boarded the monorail down to the Stratosphere, took an elevator to the top, admittedly it was ill advised but as they were there they decided to get on the ride, after being strapped in it shot them 50 feet in the air, the most amazing thing was they didn’t part company with their “breakfast” (if that’s what you can call it) the rest of the day they strolled along the strip marvelling at the splendour of the hotels. Caesar’s Palace, The Venation, the Bellagio with its dancing fountains. They went back to their luxurious room and slept for a couple of hours to get in shape for the big fight later on .zzzzzzzzzz
The Fight
To be so far from home but surrounded by familiar faces and mancuanian accents was strange. We had great seats but ended up with even better ones, as we approached the desk to enter the arena the receptionist said “let me take those and upgrade you”, this was totally unexpected) David Beckham, Sly Stallone, Oasis band members sat behind them. The had seen Max Beesley and his father on the way in Patrick Kielty being shown to his seat.
The Gallagher brothers walked in with Ricky and the fight began, my son tells me his dad screamed so loudly he lost his voice cheering for this home-grown hero. Ricky won, the fight ended on a stoppage the boy done good a perfect end to a perfect day.
My husband did actually say “look don’t ask me any more, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. My son told me later we were knackered and in bed by 10.30pm each night.
Sunday and home
They awoke for the last time in their spacious room, packed up and had a few more precious hours to buy last minute souvenirs, and to say goodbye to the heat, the happiness and a wonderful nought pence experience.
My Story
Saturday
Meanwhile back in a small suburb of Manchester …………I was awoken by the sound of a parcel dropping into my letter box, I sauntered down stairs and saw the small white jiffy bag, picked it up and whilst making myself a lovely cuppa to take back to bed in my very silent home I opened it to find a Signed copy of New Gold Dream by Simple minds.
Later on I played it in the kitchen whilst I did my allotted two hours of housework thinking that little old me from Stretford had won
“The experience of a lifetime” I had been good enough to forfeit my trip and allow my first born to enjoy this experience with his father, a bonding exercise, I hope he appreciated it.
I felt like Joan of arc! One day in the distant future my son may think about Vegas and remember a time when his mother sacrificed an experience of a lifetime for him…….
