Hatton v Mayweather is on

[Vanhalen 0]

Nicked from the BBC's sports site

 

This will be the fight of the year when it takes place.

 

 

Ricky Hatton's father Ray has confirmed a deal has been struck "in principle" for his son to face Floyd Mayweather later this year.

 

Ray Hatton said a verbal contract had been struck between lawyers for both parties with, crucially, an agreement reached over the financial side.

 

But he is remaining cautious until contracts have actually been exchanged.

 

Hatton said: "We have agreed a deal in principle but the date and venue is up in the air."

 

The most likely dates are 10 November or 8 December in Las Vegas.

 

"I can't honestly tell you a deal has been done until I see the signatures on all the documents," he said.

 

"But what I can say is that both sides were happy with what we finalised verbally."

 

Ricky Hatton admitted he was eager to take on five-weight champion Mayweather after demolishing Jose Luis Castillo in his outing for the IBO light-welterweight title on 24 June.

 

Both fighters are unbeaten, although Mayweather had previously insisted his own victory over Oscar de la Hoya last month would be his final bout.

 

The American's representatives flew Ray Hatton and the family's lawyer Gareth Williams out to Las Vegas to watch last week's fight between Bernard Hopkins and Winky Wright.

 

 

It is a great fight for Ricky. How many times do you get to fight the best fighter in the world?

 

Ray Hatton

 

Ray said negotiations were "cordial", but that the pair had flown back to England with both camps "far apart" on the financial aspects of the fight.

 

However, a deal has been reached over the telephone in recent days.

 

"It is a great fight for Ricky. How many times do you get to fight the best fighter in the world? I see it as a win-win situation because Ricky cannot fail to impress," Hatton added.

 

"Floyd is coming off a great win over De La Hoya and Ricky over Castillo. Between them they are unbeaten in 81 fights. There is nowhere else it could happen. It would be an unbelievable fight."

 

Neither fighter will go into the ring bearing a recognised title belt.

 

Ricky Hatton (right) and Jose Luis Castillo

Hatton (right) was outstanding in his victory over Castillo last month

 

Mayweather handed back the WBC light-middleweight belt he won over De La Hoya because he had no intention of remaining at that weight.

 

But both Mayweather and Hatton possess the Ring Magazine's belts at 147lbs and 140lbs, respectively. It is likely Hatton would agree to move up to meet Mayweather at the higher weight.

 

Mayweather's adviser Leonard Ellerbe said Hatton deserved praise for taking the fight.

 

He told USA Today: "I never thought he would do it, but Ricky Hatton deserves credit for stepping up to the plate.

 

"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.

 

He's going to show him what it's like to step in the ring with the best fighter."

[Vanhalen 0]

Woot, the fight of the year is definetly happening , can't fucking wait

 

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.

 

The fight will be billed as "Undefeated", with De La Hoya saying: "We are proud to continue to provide fans with the best match-ups and fights in boxing today."

 

Mayweather came out of a short-lived retirement to take the fight, which will be promoted by Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy, 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."

 

However, Hatton's trainer Billy Graham says his fighter will have no difficulties in moving up from his natural division, despite struggling to victory in his only fight at that weight of his career against Luis Collazo.

 

Ricky Hatton (left) and Jose Luis Castillo

Hatton (left) was outstanding in his victory over Castillo last month

 

"The fight against Collazo was taken reluctantly and without proper time to prepare," Graham told BBC Sport, "but this time we have plenty of notice.

 

"We will do things differently and it won't be a problem at all.

 

"Ricky set out to be the undisputed champion of the world and he did that, and did it against a living legend in Kostya Tszyu.

 

"But this fight, between the best pound-for-pound fighters out there, both at their peak, is the ultimate fight in boxing."

 

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."

 

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.

 

"He's going to show him what it's like to step in the ring with the best fighter."

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

Hatton is gonna get crushed.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

Well, crushed Floyd Mayweather-styles, which is severely outpointed to a Uninanimous decision.

[Guest]

Hold and Hit Hatton's going to win a round or two.

 

Floyd'll tag him with some good shots that leave Hatton's face swollen, and Floyd'll look like he usually does after a fight, untouched and ready to go out for the night.

[Vanhalen 0]

LOL Hatton will own Mayweather

[lomasmoney 0]

I hope that Vanhalen is just a little slow, Hatton is grossly overrated and will get creamed by Mayweather, in fact, Floyd might be able to hurt him bad, Hatton is alledgedly fast, but all i ever see is holding from him, if he does that in Vegas against Floyd he might not show up. He will have to fight, box, and outslug Mayweather, and while he can attempt the latter, the fact Mayweather is both super fast and amazing at not getting hit means that Hatton will get embarassed

[snuffbox 0]

PBF-Gatti 2.

[Vanhalen 0]

I've watched most of Hattons fights, ever since he was debuting on Sky Sports, and let me tell you Hatton is one of the toughest fighters I've ever seen. Mayweather is in for one huge fucking shock.

[Coffin Surfer 0]

Call it a gut feeling, but I see Hatton taking a decision. I think he has more momentum coming into the fight and will somehow pull it off. Despite a couple lackluster performances, Hatton looked good in his last fight and actually worked on the inside against Castillo, who wasn't shot until he got his ribs busted. Even if Hatton loses, I don't see this being another Gatti massacre. A Baldomir game of chase maybe but Hatton is lighter on his feet and busier than Bald.

[snuffbox 0]

Already sold out.

[JohnnyBlaze 0]

I don't think mayweather knows what he is getting into here.

[snuffbox 0]

http://www.fightnews.com/leon42.htm

[NoCalMike 0]

Hard to bet against Mayweather. His style is boring as fuck and I would never spend money to watch it, but it is even more effective than boring. He obviously has deceptive power because everyone that Baldomir, Mayweather, etc etc would at least just try to walk through Mayweather's jab in order to bullrush and take the fight "inside" It didn't work then, and I don't see why Hatton will have any success trying it either.

[snuffbox 0]

HBO is doing another 24/7 series for this.

[Guest Tzar Lysergic]

As much as I like Mayweather, I hope Hatton fucks him up. He doesn't have to win, but at least get DQed after gashing Floyd with a headbutt.