Slimline Ricky Hatton has cut out the junk food so successfully his nutritionist is urging him to pile the pounds back on ahead of his world title challenge against Juan Urango in Las Vegas.

Hatton is the first to admit he relishes a diet of takeaways and alcohol out of training when his weight often balloons up to three stones above the 10-stone light-welterweight limit.

But the Hitman's new-found resolve is reaping unexpected dividends and with his clash with Urango less than three weeks away, Hatton is already tipping the scales two pounds under his 10st 9lbs target.

Hatton's nutritionist Kerry Kayes admitted: "I saw Ricky today and told him how slim he was looking. He is under the latest target we set, and has gone from 12st 10lbs to 10st 7lbs in 13 weeks."

Hatton admitted he gave into temptation ahead of his first fight at the welterweight limit in March, when he sometimes looked sluggish on the way to a commendable points win over Luis Collazo.

And he now believes those occasional dietary lapses may have been one of the major reasons why he failed to produce his usual explosive performance against the WBA champion.

Hatton added: "This time I have ripped up all the takeaway menus and I am staying away from it all. Everybody knows I love my food and I love my pints so it definitely has not been easy."