In this regular all-American town of fake volcanoes and faux Eiffel Towers, where phony Venetian gondoliers pole through canals of make-believe, where - and I swear I'm not making this up - my plumber is an Elvis impersonator, Ricky Hatton is as refreshingly honest as a left hook to the liver.

It is one of America's fastest growing metropolises, but there is a growing foreign influence. The Strip caters to Oriental gamblers - Japanese and Korean, now joined by Chinese. There may be a lot of Mexicans workers in the hotels, but their rich relatives are downstairs at the gaming tables.

Boxing used to be a magnet to get the high rollers out of New York, Chicago and Miami. Magnets made in the U.S.A. have lost much of their strength in recent years and Vegas's title of “boxing capital of the world” is defended now by foreigners. Hatton, acting like a man who has reached the Promised Land, said when he saw his name topping the bill at the Paris Las Vegas casino, “I got an erection like the Eiffel Tower outside.” Bob Arum pointed out that Saturday's HBO double-header at the Paris features four boxers, none of who is American.

Hatton heads the green-card invasion. Boxing, and to a degree, Vegas tourism, hope his straight talking and straight shooting (darts and pool, products of a childhood in English pubs owned by his parents) revive a business with a penchant for punching itself in the head.

The undefeated Englishman, with an all-out style that does not need translation, Hatton is challenging an undefeated Colombian, Juan Urango, of modest skills but dangerous power for one of his old junior welterweight titles.

In the semifinal, the man expected to be Hatton's next opponent in the 140-pound division, the former two-time lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo of Mexico, faces Hermann Ngoudjo of Cameroon and Canada. Castillo's recent behavior, failing to make the 135-pound lightweight limit twice for fights with Diego (Chico) Corrales, was just another black eye nailed in the coffin of a dying sport.

But he paid his $250,000 fine, did his six months suspension as ordered by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, and now, after almost a year off and at the age of 33, he returns, chastised and humble. El Terrible thanked the commission for allowing him back and said at Thursday's ritual final press conference at the Paris Las Vegas, “I am telling you I will not have any problems with the scales.”

His face is drawn, the cheeks sunk although not as badly as before his failure to make 135 in June, when he could not get lower than 139 _. He said he did not give up any favorite foods, but that he had “five more pounds to play with.” It could be his biggest fight will be Friday afternoon, against the scales. If he loses that one, said Arum, he's “finished” as a fighter and would be lucky to get a job holding round cards. Castillo is an 11-1 favorite Saturday to beat the undefeated, unknown and unpronounced Ngoudjo.

“That's 'EN-goo-joe,'” instructed his Montreal promoter, Yves Michel.

Asked what he knew about his opponent, Castillo said, “Nada,” adding “I guess I wasn't saying his name right.”

He saw one video, said the African “looks very fast-handed, but he doesn't move a lot.” That could change, of course, once the very confident acting Ngoudjo senses Castillo's strength and power. If there's going to be an upset on this HBO card to build up a June 2 Hatton-Castillo clash, it would seem the prelim would be the place.

After all his wars, forced to rest for a while on his 54-7-1 record with 47 knockouts, may have been refreshing, said Castillo. If so, he could be a major fight for Hatton, whom he said was better than his bitter rival, Corrales, “I think so.”

He said he would “never” give Corrales a chance to make money against him again, “not after what he said about me” for not making weight. He said when Corrales couldn't make 135 and lost his lightweight title at the scales against Joel Casamayor, “I laughed my head off.”

I asked him whether Hatton, 41-0 (30), was better than Floyd Mayweather Jr., whom Castillo gave two tough tussles. He hesitated, finally shrugging off the question. His interpreter, Ricardo Jiminez of Top Rank, said, “Jose said the other day Hatton was the kind of fighter everyone wants to see, Mayweather is the kind of the fighter no one wants to see.”

Hatton, a rare breed these days who does not disparage other fighters, said Mayweather, the consensus best in the world, topped his “hit list” and gave him full credit for skills and technique.

“But all his fights are the same to me,” said Hatton, “more chess matches than fights.”

He knows Urango, plodding but aggressive, will make for the kind of fight Larry Merchant of HBO likes. “If you like action,” said Hatton, “you've come to the right party. I don't believe anyone will fall asleep Saturday.”

He said he's been to Vegas a dozen times and seems to be enjoying his first trip here to the limelight. He's been billeted at Caesars Palace, where he asked for and received a pool table for his suite. The real thrill came when he looked up at the 100-foot marquee outside the casino and said “one second you see Celine Dion, the next you see my ugly mug.”

Unlike many of his colleagues, he has not locked himself into his room and gone into what one of his idols, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, used to call “prison.” He is too out-going for that. He is by far Britain's biggest boxing star and has even gone down to the bars to meet with many of the 2,000 plus fans who have trekked here to support him. They have beers, he said, while he sips coffee. He said he's “been having a gamble” and was up about $2,000. Unlike many of his colleagues, he will not take the money and run. He plans to see another of his idols, Tom Jones, Sunday night and will stick around to enjoy the scene until Thursday.

Hatton has the kind of boxing style and personality that the game has long awaited. I said he may be the best interview since Muhammad Ali and will be so quoted in the Guardian. Hatton is a much better quote.

“What's the point of being the best fighter on the planet,” he said, “if people think you're a dickhead?”

He said “I don't feel I have to say the right things, I say what's on my mind. I'm not faking. People know which people are faking.”

Like Castillo, he has had trouble making weight. He likes his Guinness and he likes his fast food. He promised himself “an English breakfast” the morning of the fight after he has safely made weight - for which he went to camp for 13 weeks.

He said after all that fish and chicken and vegetable, the bacon and sausage would give him energy, “fight day you want some of that grease.”

His last start, back in May, he moved up to 147 and won a title against the very capable Luis Collazo, but with a very spotty performance. Not in his best shape, he was hurt in the 11th and 12th rounds by the southpaw from Brooklyn. He said dropping Collazo in the opening round didn't help, “sometimes it's the worst thing that can happen.”

“I'd rather give the credit to Luis,” he said, “but I lost my way for a few rounds.”

He is among many who believe Collazo has an excellent chance Feb. 10 here against Sugar Shane Mosley. He is exceedingly polite to his peers. Though he was the undisputed 140-pound champion before moving up to fight Collazo, he said he “vacated” and Urango deserves to be called the champion here.

Yes, he's peeked ahead at the possibility of the June 2 match with Castillo, “but this isn't a warmup fight for Jose Castillo, this is for a world title.”

The man has his head on his shoulders. Urango will try to knock it off, but that head contains a superior chin. I sense the “champion” is a bit tense, that his 17-0-1 record hasn't adequately prepared himself for Hatton. Las Vegas is prepared for him, though.

PENTHOUSE: Joe Goossen for publicly not making a stink about being stiffed by a fighter who shall go nameless.

OUTHOUSE: Diego Corrales.