Post by Wonderben : Ricky Hatton on Aug 1, 2007 10:22:02 GMT -5
Hatton seals bout with Mayweather
The bout against Mayweather will be the biggest of Hatton's career
The 'super-fight' between Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather will go ahead on 8 December after contracts were signed, according to Hatton's father Ray.
Hatton, who will step up a division from light welterweight for the fight, will receive a career-best purse.
"The contract provided what we wanted and we are officially signed up," said Ray, "and our lawyers have told us that the Mayweather camp have also signed.
"Now we are just waiting for the date and venue to be made official."
The MGM Grand in Las Vegas is favourite to host the contest, where Hatton could expect a travelling support in excess of the 10,000 who saw him beat Jose Luis Castillo in the city in June.
Mayweather came out of a short-lived retirement to take the fight, and has already begun the hype.
He said: "I don't know who is the pound-for-pound number two in the world, but there is no fighter in the world like me.
"Hatton is in for a rude awakening when we meet and he is in for a shock if he thinks I'm like any fighter he has ever faced. I'm in the business of blood, sweat and tears."
Meanwhile, Mayweather's adviser Leonard Ellerbe said Hatton deserved praise for taking the fight.
"I never thought he would do it, but Ricky Hatton deserves credit for stepping up to the plate," he told USA Today.
"He asked for it and now he's going to get it. Floyd is extremely excited. He wants to show Hatton that he's never fought at this level before.
Hatton was outstanding in his victory over Castillo last month
"He's going to show him what it's like to step in the ring with the best fighter."
However, Hatton's trainer Billy Graham says his fighter will have no difficulties in moving up from his natural division.
"The fight's going to be at 147 lbs," Graham told BBC Radio Five Live.
"I don't think anyone can touch him at his natural weight, but I've got no problems moving up."
The welterweight division requires fighters to weigh in between 141 and 147 lbs, while the light welterweight classification is 136 to 140 lbs.
Hatton has fought in the welterweight division on numerous occasions, but his last two fights - against Juan Urango and Jose Luis Castillo - have both been at the lighter weight.
Mayweather has also fought at different weights, stepping up to light middleweight for his most recent bout against Oscar de la Hoya.
"I've always said Ricky wasn't a welterweight and I wasn't interested in going back up to that division unless it was [against] Floyd because he's not such a big guy," added Graham.
Floyd is a great fighter but if he thinks I'm going to turn up and just lie back and take what he has got to dish out then he has got another thing coming
Ricky Hatton
"I don't think Floyd's any bigger than Ricky, whereas a lot of the welterweights are."
Hatton has admitted that a fight with Mayweather would be the highlight of his glittering career.
"Just getting in the ring with him will be the greatest day of my life, other than when my son was born," Hatton told the Daily Express last week. "Floyd is the one I want more than anybody else.
"Floyd is a great fighter but if he thinks I'm going to turn up and just lie back and take what he has got to dish out then he has got another thing coming."
De la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions is understood to be taking charge of the arrangements.
Credit BBC
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I seriously cannot wait for this, I've been waiting along time to see someone shut Mayweather up and i really believe Hatton will do that in December.
The bout against Mayweather will be the biggest of Hatton's career
The 'super-fight' between Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather will go ahead on 8 December after contracts were signed, according to Hatton's father Ray.
Hatton, who will step up a division from light welterweight for the fight, will receive a career-best purse.
"The contract provided what we wanted and we are officially signed up," said Ray, "and our lawyers have told us that the Mayweather camp have also signed.
"Now we are just waiting for the date and venue to be made official."
The MGM Grand in Las Vegas is favourite to host the contest, where Hatton could expect a travelling support in excess of the 10,000 who saw him beat Jose Luis Castillo in the city in June.
Mayweather came out of a short-lived retirement to take the fight, and has already begun the hype.
He said: "I don't know who is the pound-for-pound number two in the world, but there is no fighter in the world like me.
"Hatton is in for a rude awakening when we meet and he is in for a shock if he thinks I'm like any fighter he has ever faced. I'm in the business of blood, sweat and tears."
Meanwhile, Mayweather's adviser Leonard Ellerbe said Hatton deserved praise for taking the fight.
"I never thought he would do it, but Ricky Hatton deserves credit for stepping up to the plate," he told USA Today.
"He asked for it and now he's going to get it. Floyd is extremely excited. He wants to show Hatton that he's never fought at this level before.
Hatton was outstanding in his victory over Castillo last month
"He's going to show him what it's like to step in the ring with the best fighter."
However, Hatton's trainer Billy Graham says his fighter will have no difficulties in moving up from his natural division.
"The fight's going to be at 147 lbs," Graham told BBC Radio Five Live.
"I don't think anyone can touch him at his natural weight, but I've got no problems moving up."
The welterweight division requires fighters to weigh in between 141 and 147 lbs, while the light welterweight classification is 136 to 140 lbs.
Hatton has fought in the welterweight division on numerous occasions, but his last two fights - against Juan Urango and Jose Luis Castillo - have both been at the lighter weight.
Mayweather has also fought at different weights, stepping up to light middleweight for his most recent bout against Oscar de la Hoya.
"I've always said Ricky wasn't a welterweight and I wasn't interested in going back up to that division unless it was [against] Floyd because he's not such a big guy," added Graham.
Floyd is a great fighter but if he thinks I'm going to turn up and just lie back and take what he has got to dish out then he has got another thing coming
Ricky Hatton
"I don't think Floyd's any bigger than Ricky, whereas a lot of the welterweights are."
Hatton has admitted that a fight with Mayweather would be the highlight of his glittering career.
"Just getting in the ring with him will be the greatest day of my life, other than when my son was born," Hatton told the Daily Express last week. "Floyd is the one I want more than anybody else.
"Floyd is a great fighter but if he thinks I'm going to turn up and just lie back and take what he has got to dish out then he has got another thing coming."
De la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions is understood to be taking charge of the arrangements.
Credit BBC
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I seriously cannot wait for this, I've been waiting along time to see someone shut Mayweather up and i really believe Hatton will do that in December.
