By Mark Vester
Unbeaten Ricky Hatton, preparing for the biggest fight of his career when he challenges WBC welterweight champ Floyd Mayweather Jr on Dec. 8 in Las Vegas, told Daily Mail that the recent wins by his fellow UK fighters like Joe Calzaghe and David Haye - provide him with inspiration to win.
"It did inspire me, because we're all mates, from Calzaghe beating Kessler to David Haye winning the title in France. David's coming to see me in the gym. We're all pals, we're all behind each other. That helps spur you on," Hatton said. "When I see Joe achieve what he has so comfortably at that level it inspires me to think I can go that one step further. British fighters have always taken stick from Americans. But we're catching them up."
Hatton also hit back at Mayweather's claim of being mistreated by the British fans when they made their promotional tour stops in the UK. Mayweather has said in numerous interviews that he was surprised by the disrespect of the UK fans, but Hatton told the paper that Mayweather got what he deserved because of his conduct at the press conferences.
"Floyd was moaning about the way he got treated. I read somewhere that he'd said, 'I went to Manchester and the British are meant to be gentlemen'. I'd ask him to run the tape back of what he was doing. He was goading them, dancing in front of them, he was even grabbing his b*******. You get treated how you deserve to be treated," Hatton said.
"He gave them the finger and shouted, 'I'm coming into the jungle and I AM the king of the jungle.' He gets the hump when people start hurling abuse at him? He's screamed and bawled at them. They weren't exactly going to applaud him, were they? What did he expect? Bravo? I said to him, “Floyd, if you're not going to talk sense, just don't open your mouth”.'
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