By Mark Vester

In a recent poll conducted by the Mike Houser of the Nevada Appeal, three out of four neutral experts picked WBC welterweight champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. (38-0, 24KOs) to defeat Ricky Hatton (43-0, 31KOs) on Dec. 8 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Teddy Atlas, trainer and ESPN2 commentator, says that Mayweather has to be the favored fighter.

"You've got to favor Mayweather," Atlas said. "He's the best package from an athletic and well-rounded standpoint. He can fight on the inside when he wants to and he can fight from the outside. He's also a fighter. People may have forgotten that, like they did with Sugar Ray Leonard."

Emanuel Steward, trainer and HBO commentator, said that he picks Mayweather based on talent and skill.

"Logic dictates that you have to go with Mayweather," said Steward. "Regardless of what some people may think, he's a fantastic fighter. He may talk and all that (BS), but he's still a great fighter - a phenomenal fighter. Based on his talent and skill, I'm going with Floyd."

Ronnie Shields, trainer of several past and present champions, said Mayweather will beat Hatton down.

"Floyd Mayweather is going to beat the hell out of him," Shields said. "I think it will be a good fight. Hatton is such a good competitor and he comes to fight. But Floyd is in a class all by himself right now. I haven't seen a style that Floyd hasn't been able to handle. Floyd has learned to make adjustments early in fights now. I don't think Ricky Hatton can."

The lone voice in Hatton's corner was trainer Jesse Reid, who trained both Roger Mayweather and Floyd Mayweather Sr. He says that Mayweather Jr. was unable to handle the style of Paul Spadafora when the two sparred in the gym a few years ago, and he won't be able to handle the style of Hatton.

Reid says that he knew Mayweather was out of shape when he came to the gym and called Spadafora out, so he made the sparring session six-rounds, which saw Mayweather take a lot of punches.

"He was ready to quit after two rounds, but I said, 'Oh no, you're going six,'" Reid said of Mayweather. "When it was over he was laying down for 20 minutes. I think Hatton's got a shot. The reasons why are, from what I've seen of Mayweather as a welterweight, he's not knocking out welterweights and he doesn't take pressure well. I thought Castillo won when he fought him the first time. And Paul Spadafora isn't a puncher, but Mayweather has troubles with pressure. When Mayweather goes into a shell, you have to punch with him. Hatton's one of the best pressure fighters around."

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