Las Vegas Weekly

November 25, 2008 · 10 AM

David Beckham leaves boxing after-party at Studio 54 to party on his own

By Robin Leach

David Beckham, not looking at the ring at this moment.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Out-of-town paparazzi swarmed soccer superstar David Beckham wherever he went on his trip into Las Vegas over the weekend. It got so bad at MGM that security guards had to rescue him from British boxer Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton’s victory party and escort him for safety reasons out of Studio 54. The crush of fans and cameras was apparently just too much to handle.

Becks, along with Oasis rocker brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, had arrived at the nightclub after midnight, which was packed wall to wall -- and many of the crazed crowd had flown over from England. With the British superstars on parade, it turned into a screaming mob scene.

At 1 a.m., a devoted band decked out in Ricky Hatton capes drummed out the now-famous “Hatton Wonderland” fight song, and the entire place chanted along. The newly crowned champion fighter grabbed a mic to thank fans for their intense support, and then he and Beckham hugged before the soccer star signaled it was time to get out.

He headed off to Nobu at the Hard Rock for a three-hour late sushi and sashimi supper with friends who kept the photogs at bay before they sped back at 4 a.m. to their $25,000-a-night, 10,000-square-foot Hardwood Suite at George Maloof’s Fantasy Tower in the Palms.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Jason Ellis.

The British win over Brooklyn contender Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi wasn’t the only fisticuffs of the weekend. In a unique fight promotion at the Hard Rock, our Strip nightlife and casino hosts went into the ring for the first “Fight Club Charity Boxing Tournament.”

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Jason Giambi.

Nearly1, 000 onlookers showed up as the amateur fighters raised $15,000 for the Smile Train cleft charity. Guest included Carey Hart, New York Yankee Jason Giambi, professional skateboarders Tony Hawk and Bucky Lasek, Maximillion Cooper, stunt guy actor Chuck Zito, Sirius Radio’s pro mixed martial arts wrestler Jason Ellis and, of course, the requisite Ring Girls!

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Jason Giambi and Chuck Zito.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Maximillion Cooper and Tony Hawk.

The boxing consisted of 10 boxing bouts with three rounds for each match. Proud winners included Steve Cyr of the Hard Rock Poker Lounge, John Thomason and Jason Craig of the N9NE Group, Justen Crews, Greg Costello, Tony D’Ambrosio and Eric Noe from the Hard Rock’s Body English nightclub and Ryan Heapy from Tao.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Sergio Santana swaps leather with Greg Costello.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Ring Girls!

Meantime, Hitman Hatton is in no hurry to split from Sin City and head home to England after his win at MGM Grand. The next night, he turned up at Pure in Caesars Palace, where he walked the bar and around the club happily talking to fight fans until 2 a.m.! Last word I had was that he’s still in town and still celebrating. When he was here last December and lost, he stayed for 10 days before returning home!

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