Billy Graham: "We want Mayweather"

Very interesting interview with Billy Graham. Confirms Hatton has no fear of Mayweather. Ricky Hatton's trainer, Billy Graham, is hardly the most charming of people. He snarls rather than speaks, and every other word he utters is an expletive. He looks like the type of bloke you would probably avoid down the pub; the angry looking, shaved head type, ready to argue with anyone, and quick to disagree. Graham does not really listen to what is said to him, rather he talks about what he wants, and answers questions he thinks should have been asked. But, he is a fine trainer, and the type of person you would want in your corner. He has honed Ricky Hatton into an awesome fighting machine with his training methods, and he is one of the most respected trainers in the game because of it. "I wasn't keen at all, why would I be?" said Graham irritably when asked about Hatton's upcoming fight with Luis Collazo. "My kid is Light Welterweight champion of the world, I am kind of reluctant to have him fight a welterweight southpaw who is a mover, and the objective of it all is to look good, as it is for the American public." "He is the worst type of opponent," he continued. "I would have to be brain dead to not show my concerns about it. But, my concern was never, never that I though he could beat Ricky Hatton," he says emphatically, responding to members of the press who have read into his protests at taking this bout. "Ricky Hatton could beat anyone at his weight in the world. The fight's on, we just got to deal with it." How will he deal with a tall rangy southpaw in training? "I know how to deal with a southpaw," he says flatly. "Ricky's got the tools to deal with a southpaw." Does Hatton maintain his power and strength at 147? "Absolutely". Why this fight, and not someone slightly less difficult? "It's the fight we were told to take." Who would he have preferred? "I'd prefer to fight Mayweather, because everyone thinks that Mayweather is the pound for pound best fighter in the world. It's Mayweather that we want", he opens up. And how would he see that fight panning out? "I see Ricky winning", Too much pressure? "Yeah, I think he'd put too much pressure on Mayweather. I think he is too intense, not just that, you can't beat Mayweather with just intensity, he is a genius, a wicked talent, but he's got flaws the same as anyone else, the same as Kostya Tszyu. My kid's a great fighter. It's not just his intensity and pressure which is of course what he brings," he says. "He's a lot more than that, he has educated shots, he can read a fighter well, he's as quick as lightening himself, great foot work. He's a lot more than just intensity and pressure, but that would be a big part of it." What flaws does Graham see in Mayweather? "I see loads of flaws in him," he replies bluntly. "But you can't ask me to do this over a taped interview. I'm the coach, I see loads of flaws." Moving on, what of the other opponents out there, in or around Hatton's weight category? Miguel Cotto for example? "I think he is a great fighter, but he's a welterweight. He has got to move up to Welterweight NOW." And how does he think Ricky would fare against him at 147? "Why would we take the fight at 147?" he asks incredulously. At 140 then? "At 140, Ricky would stop him. It wouldn't be early, but Ricky would stop him", he states adamantly. And what of Hatton's old British nemesis, Junior Witter? "He would MURDER Junior Witter," he barks. "He would MURDER Junior Witter. There is not a prayer Junior Witter would see the final bell". Ricardo Torres, the man who almost toppled Cotto in a thrilling 8 round brawl last year? "I think Ricardo Torres is a wicked puncher, a massive puncher, he was a banger all his life, a real dangerous fighter, but that's about it," he says. Given that Hatton has stated he wants to be out of the fight game in the next two to three years, whom would Graham choose to be Hatton's next three opponents? "Mayweather, Mayweather, Mayweather" he replies slowly. And with that, he walks off.