RICKY Hatton is in line for the biggest purse ever paid to a non-heavyweight British fighter if his handlers can close out a deal for him to meet Floyd Mayweather later this year.

As revealed last week in M.E.N. Sport, representatives of the two fighters are close to clinching a contract which would bring them together in Las Vegas on December 8, possibly at the MGM Grand casino.

With a pay-per-view TV deal lined up with cable company HBO, it is expected that Hatton could receive up to £5million, twice his current biggest pay packet, with five-weight world champion Mayweather pocketing around £8million.

Hatton's father and adviser Ray last week said that a deal had been agreed verbally, but that the detail was still to be thrashed out.

It is understood that Hatton will move up to the 10 st 7 lbs welterweight division for the fight while Mayweather will step down from the light-middleweight mark at which he beat legend Osacr de la Hoya in May before "retiring" from the sport.

The fight may not be for a world title belt, although it will be recognised as a clash to determine the top man in the light-welter, welter and light-middle divisions and will be billed as a decider for the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet.

Intriguing

It is also an intriguing clash of styles and personality, pitting ultra-smooth stylist Mayweather against Hatton's rugged, relentless style - comparisons have already been drawn with the three Sugar Ray Leonard v Roberto Duran clashes in the 1980s.

Confirmation that the fight is close to agreement came from Mayweather's camp, with the Pretty Boy's adviser Leonard Ellerbe saying an announcement could be made later today.

"This is a great fight for the fans," he said. "We have two young unbeaten fighters at the top of their game, from two different countries going against each other. It's what boxing needs.

"I never thought Ricky would do it but he deserves credit for stepping up to the plate. He asked for it and now he is going to get it.

"Floyd is extremely excited. He wants to show Hatton that he has never fought at this level before. He's going to show him what it's like to step into the ring with the best fighter."

Hatton has long targeted Mayweather and it was a calculated decision to goad the Michigan man which looks like it has paid off with the jackpot.

After stopping Jose LUis Castillo inside four rounds in Vegas last month, Hatton took a swipe at Mayweather's often defensive style, saying that he and the Mexican had generated more excitement in four rounds than the world number one has in his entire career.

Mayweather, noted for his enormous ego, took the bait and announced he was out of retirement in order to fight Hatton, and the Hitman's promoter Dennis Hobson was in Vegas last week to mull over his original offer of a £5million purse to tempt Mayweather into action.

With pay-per-view expected to generate huge amounts on both sides of the Atlantic, and the backing of a major casino like the MGM Grand, the purse has been revised upwards.

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