HATTON: FLLOYD NEEDS POWER NOT SPEED TO STOP ME ( Sky Sports )

Ricky Hatton says Floyd Mayweather will need more than speed to beat him on December 8.

The Hitman faces the Pretty Boy in boxing's fight of the year at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Both men have perfect ring records, but hugely contrasting styles.
It's Mayweather's speed, defensive brilliance and counter-punching against Hatton's non-stop pressure and brutal body blows.
Hatton will start a big underdog - particularly Stateside - but for Manchester's finest it's a case of deja vu.
In 2005 he was written off ahead of his career-defining world-title showdown with Aussie great Kostya Tszyu in Manchester.
But on an unforgettable night at the MEN Arena he made Tszyu quit at the end of round 11 after unleashing an unrelenting attack on his opponent.
And now Hatton says he'll make Mayweather quit too.

Losing money


He said: "I think a lot of people are going to lose money. Most people are picking Floyd - everybody expects him to beat me. And that suits me just fine.
"Last time nobody gave me a chance against Kostya Tszyu and I made him quit. I think I'm going to make Floyd quit."
Hatton says that as he did against Tszyu he'll rise to the occasion, and adds that only power and not speed can halt his march to the top of the P4P tree.

"Nobody gave me a prayer against Kostya Tszyu and I think Floyd would like to think the pressure will get to me on the biggest stage. But before I was world champion I was boxing in front of bigger crowds than I'll be fighting in front of on December 8.

Oblivious


"But against Tszyu I was oblivious to tiredness and I was oblivious to pain. Floyd is a different style but I think to beat Ricky Hatton you need that firepower to stop me coming.
"Floyd has the speed and boxing ability and defence but Tszyu had the physical strength and that right hand.
"I think you need power. I'd be more worried about facing power rather than speed. You need to stop Ricky Hatton coming. Has he got the power to hurt me? I've no doubt he might lead me a merry dance at times and pick me off but he doesn't have the right hand that Kostya Tszyu had.
"Has he got the firepower to deal with my educated pressure? And that's the key - edcuated pressure."

Pressure


Hatton has huge respect for Mayweather's talents, but says there are crucial flaws that he will expose come December 8.
"He has a lot in his armoury - he's very very good at what he does. He's got a wonderful defence and he likes to take the sting out of his opponent - there's nothing more tiring than missing.
"He waits for his opponent but he shouldn't be waiting too long. Against somebody like me who doesn't tire, he doesn't want to wait too long.
"He's struggled against people that put the pressure on him - Castillo and De La Hoya. He's got a whole lot of trouble coming his way.
"Doubt hasn't come into my mind yet. There isn't the slightest thought that I'm going to lose."
Hatton won't just carry that unbeaten record into the MGM Grand ring - he'll carry the hopes of a nation starved of sporting success in 2007.
But just as with most things in life, he reacts to that in a positive way.
"I don't look to the burden of letting them down. I look forward to doing them proud.
"Nobody gave Lloyd Honeyghan a chance against Don Curry, nobody gave Roberto Duran a chance against Sugar Ray Leonard and nobody gave me a chance against Kostya Tszyu. The man with the most talent doesn't always win."

 

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