TV View:Subtle and all as Sky's build-up to the Ricky Hatton fight was through the week we still felt for ITV on Saturday night when, much as they tried, they couldn't whip the nation into quite the same frenzy about their exclusive live coverage of Amir Khan's Commonwealth title fight in Bolton against a lad from Luton.

Most of all, though, we felt for Jim Rosenthal, still the undisputed smiliest presenter on television. Only Des O'Connor on Countdown comes close, but Jim would probably deck him in the opening round.

Actually, if Jim stepped in for Des the conundrum would probably read: "Lovelier four-dimensional warmth."

Neither contestant would have the heart to press the buzzer to offer the correct answer, which would be "Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton" because the mere mention of himself would very probably test Jim's erstwhile unshakable cheerfulness.

Yes, Jim's having a bad time of it of late. He hosted ITV's Formula One coverage for eight years, in and around 150 races, during which time nothing remotely interesting happened. Then he handed over the reins to Steve Rider to concentrate on other sporting things, like football, boxing and rugby, and he was hardly out of the hot seat when who drove around the Formula One corner? Lewis.

And with that Formula One became Britain's very favourite sport, Steve's face more recognisable than the Queen's. If Jim had hopped into a canoe and disappeared for five years no one would have noticed.

But he kept smiling, just as he did when England lost the rugby World Cup final, which he hosted, and just as he did on Saturday night when, after promising us the biggest test of young Amir's career, the fight was over in 72 seconds.

"We'll just look at the highlights here, Barry," he said to the McGuigan fella, "actually it's the whole fight."

At least RTÉ got value for their boxing money on the same night, John Duddy's fight against Howard Eastman going the distance at the King's Hall.

Perhaps, though, the more interesting contest of the evening was the bout between Eastman and Jimmy Magee, when Jimmy threatened to run away with Eastman's wife if she came to Belfast.

"She wouldn't," said the Battersea Bomber, for that is Eastman's monicker, "you're cute . . . but damn." The Montrose Mauler could only blush.

As for Ricky Hatton. Well, to be honest, we saw most of the build-up, quite a lot of the aftermath, but not the bit in between: the fight itself. This was largely because we felt the whole thing could be over in 72 seconds and we'd have missed out on a whole heap of sleep for not very much. Also, such was the quality of the pre-fight hype we reckoned the bout itself would, inevitably, be an anti-climax.

"When we come back: The Canoe Man and Ricky Hatton," said one Sky News presenter midweek (the fella with the Star Trek-ish blue eyes), leaving us agog. The two stories, alas, had no link whatsoever, other than the fact they filled Sky News airtime for 99 per cent of last week, the other one per cent devoted to severe weather forecasts.

We do hope, though, that Ricky won last night's BBC Sports Personality of the Year, which hasn't happened yet but will have happened by the time you read this, if you know what we mean.

"What about Lewis Hamilton?" Ray Stubbs asked Gary Pallister on Saturday having browsed through the contenders.

"Nah, he only came second," said Gary, which, come to think about it, would also rule out the English rugby team (second in the World Cup), Hatton (second in Las Vegas) and the English cricketers (second in the Ashes).

We're not sure who's nominated for the international team of the year, or even if such a category exists, but, regrettably, we don't think our rugby boys will be making room on their mantelpieces as we speak.

"If Eddie O'Sullivan doesn't make changes for the Six Nations I'll go . . . bananas," said George "Hookie" Hook on Saturday night. "Again?' sighed Conor O'Shea. "Yes, flambéed bananas," said George, upping the ante.

George was crankier than usual on Saturday, Leinster's display against Edinburgh the previous night darkening his mood. "Is this lowly Scottish fodder for the Dublin-based galacticos?" Sky's Mark Robson had asked before the game, after which George would happily have fed Leinster, who missed out on a bonus point, to the nearest available flock of sheep.

"They wouldn't knock the skin off an egg custard," he said.

Perhaps they need Amir Khan in their front row, he'd have had the egg custard sorted out in nought to 72 seconds.