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Mayweather promises Hatton KO

Ricky Hatton
FLOYD Mayweather has told Ricky Hatton he will be knocked out in their superfight scheduled for Las Vegas on December 8.

Contracts for the eagerly-awaited 147-pound championship were signed yesterday and Mayweather immediately came out punching.

"He's definitely getting knocked out," he said.

The five-weight world champion added: "I am the best fighter in boxing today, and I'm prepared for any challenge my team puts in front of me. And with Ricky Hatton it's already personal.

"He has talked and disrespected me so much in the past months that I can't wait to get him in the ring and show him he is not even on my level."

Hatton is relishing the opportunity to prove himself the best fighter on the planet and is set to earn a career-best purse of up to £8million for the bout, which will be promoted by Oscar de la Hoya's "Golden Boy Promotions".

De la Hoya said: "I am extremely excited to announce Golden Boy's involvement in another boxing extravaganza such as Mayweather vs Hatton. We are proud to continue to provide fans with the best match-ups and fights in boxing today. This will be an exciting way to end this record-breaking year for the sport."

Unbeaten

The unbeaten Mancunian 'Hitman' said it was his lifetime dream to climb to the top of the pound-for-pound rankings, a position currently held by Mayweather.

Hatton (43-0) said: "To win the world title is one thing, but to be known as the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet in any weight division would be something else and I just can't wait."

He added on Sky Sports News: "I am fighting a five-weight world champion and the best fighter in the world. He's just come off a win over another modern-day legend in De la Hoya. It can't get any bigger than that."

Mayweather (38-0) has been needled out of retirement to take the fight. The brash Grand Rapids man said he would walk away from the sport after his win over De la Hoya.

However Hatton's magnificent win over Jose Luis Castillo in June clearly caught the attention of the self-styled 'Pretty Boy' - as did Hatton's subsequent comments about what he perceives to be Mayweather's negative style.

"Before my last performance against Castillo, I'm sure a lot of people thought I'd lost my chance at fighting him, but with the performance I put in last time he could see what a big fight it is," Hatton added.

Hatton will move up to 147 pounds for only the second time in his career to face Mayweather.

Despite struggling when he stepped up in weight to outpoint Luis Castillo in Boston early last year, Hatton believes he will be much better prepared to carry the extra poundage against Mayweather.

He added: "I ended up getting in the ring too heavy on the night and it slowed me down. But you learn by your mistakes and I'll be better prepared next time. I'll be better, stronger and faster."

What is your prediction for the fight? Have your say.

Comments

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mayweather many have said that end ended up on the canvas you struggled against castliio as ricky put him down with a wicked body shot.
Expect your self getting a beating .
And why dont you want to fight over in manchester(YOU SCARED)

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wake up floyd you cant knock a man like ricky out you cant knock out the hasbeen,s you have fought lately ricky on points easy billy graham will sort your style out then you can get treated at the sore rib department

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Mayweather has to take Ricky Hatton on in his own 'turf'.
Let's face it,the pampered
American wouldn't survive
a day in Manchester,let alone
in the same ring as Ricky in
Manchester.First 'blood' to
Ricky for having the guts to
fight away from home.Ricky
has already proved his worth
'stateside'.There's no way
Mayweather will get anywhere
near knocking Ricky out.
Mayweather is facing the grit and durability of Marciano,skill of Ali all
rolled into one.Watch for a
knock-out of Mayweather by
Hatton around round 5.

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