BOXING hero Ricky Hatton was guaranteed the biggest prize in Vegas last night.
Mayor Oscar Goodman wants to award him the key to the city in a special ceremony.
Ricky, 31, who was being cheered on by more than 12,000 Brit fans as he faced Filipino Manny Pacquiao earlier today, hasn?t been told of the honour yet.
But a member of his camp told the Daily Star Sunday last night: ?He?ll be absolutely thrilled. Getting a key to Vegas is the one thing guaranteed to knock him out because there?s no way Pacquiao will.?
Ricky, who got the MBE in the 2007 New Year?s Honours, is a local hero in the Nevada gambling city after three huge fights there in just over two years.
He beat Colombian Juan Urango on points in January 2007, lost to ?Pretty Boy? Floyd Mayweather 11 months later, then bounced back to thump American Paulie Malignaggi with a technical knockout last November.
A source in Mayor Goodman?s office said: ?Ricky may be the pride of Manchester but he?s also become a real local hero here too.
?I can?t think of anyone who has promoted the image of Las Vegas as much and in as good a light as Ricky has over the past couple of years. He surely deserves his key.?
The 6in memento, inscribed with the city?s insignia, doesn?t unlock any doors or give holders any special privileges.
But a spokesman for Mayor Goodman revealed: ?He always tells people it unlocks the backs of the slot machines at the Mirage ? but that?s just a joke.?
