Will "pretty Boy" Mayweather Knock Down the Hitman?

By Camilla ManciniDid he win? There's your answer right there".
The fight in Las Vegas eight days away, betweenThe "bad guy" as he says the media has tagged him
Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Richard Hatton hasfor most of his fights, including this one, declares he
everyone in the sports media from America andis ready for the battle and that he is confident
Europe talking.Hatton's style will give him a thrilling fight. By
To start both of these men have a nice number ofDecember 8th, Mayweather will have been in training
undefeated fights _Mayweather has 38 (24 KOs)for nine weeks and as he says his body is in better
since his pro debut in October 1996, while theshape than ever.
Mancunian has a career record 43-0 (31 by KOs). But"I have tried to approach it like I do every fight. I'm
the fact that Hatton has a larger record ofthe hardest worker in the gym. Everyone says my
undefeated fights doesn't have much to do with thebody looks better than ever. I feel good, and that is
fact that Floyd has been rated by the Americanwhy we'll get a great outcome," declared the boxer
magazine The Ring the number one pound-for-poundfrom Michigan. "I am always pushing my body to the
boxer of the world since November 4th, 2006, whilelimit to get the most out of myself. I am disciplined.
"The Hitman" carries the number eight position in theirYou don't see me after my fight in no pub, drinking
ranking since this November.beer. Just being around the sport, you know that's
Ricky at his 29-years is considered by some peopleunhealthy for you."
one of the best British boxer in history, as well as hisBookmakers estimate him at around 1-2 on to beat
30-year-old rival it's considered by some on this siteRicky, but Floyd is used to performing under the load
of the pond, one of the best boxers ever and hasof expectation. "Hatton is one hell of a fighter. He is
even been compared to the great Ali by his currentgoing to bring his 'A' game. But what you have to
trainer, his uncle Roger Mayweather -something a lotrealize is that all the pressure is on me every time I
of people, including me, considers out of line, but thenfight", said the hot favorite.
again you know what they say…the trash"When you fight Floyd Mayweather, you fight the
talking runs in the family.best. If I win, I'm supposed to win. So in boxing, I'm
But the reality is this: the 5 ft 8 (1.73) Afro-Americanalways in a no-win situation. After I win, there's
has built around him a pretty good career, winning sixalways an excuse. But I do say, judge me for what I
world boxing championships in five different weightdo in the ring, not on hearsay or on what they
classes between super-featherweight andwrite."
light-middleweight; on one of which he defeatedSo we'll be waiting for the Floyd and Hatton's show
Oscar De La Hoya, who by the way had commentedthat hopefully will be as exciting as expected. And I
that he believes Hatton has the "intelligent pressure"have to say this; it's not normal for me to take a site
to dethrone "Pretty Boy" Floyd of the number 1on my articles, but what the hell… I would like
pound-for-pound position.to see Mayweather knock down the Manchester
To what the number 1 boxer answered: "Everyone isboxer -not that I have something against British. Oh!
entitled of their opinion". "De La Hoya is RickyAnd maybe he can use on Hatton one of those
Hatton's promoter - even if he doesn't want to say itmoves Karina Smirnoff (his partner in the program)
that is what he is supposed to say".taught him during his participation on "Dancing with
"He said he was going to win [against me] on May 5.the Stars".