Hatton and Mayweather exchange insults

Mayweather, Hatton trade verbal jabs at news conference September 17, 2007 LOS ANGELES (TICKER) -- The hype has begun for perhaps the biggest fight of the year. On Monday, undefeated boxers Floyd Mayweather Jr. and England's Ricky Hatton took turns disrespecting each other during a news conference in the Universal City section of Los Angeles in advance of their December 8 showdown at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Hatton (43-0-0, 31 KOs) played a video which poked fun at Mayweather (38-0-0, 24 KOs) for taking dancing lessons in preparation for his upcoming appearance on the hit TV show "Dancing with the Stars." "He is doing the show 'Dancing with the Stars' and I think that's how he is boxing," Hatton said. "Floyd always backs up. That's the woman part." Hatton then joined the conference, wearing a golden crown on his head which Mayweather promptly snatched away from him. "I am glad he took it, because it looks more like Burger King than like a champion," Hatton said. Hatton, the IBF light welterweight champion, is looking to add Mayweather's WBC welterweight belt. "I was delighted when I won my British title, then I got more and more and the world title," Hatton said. "Now, that is going to be another stage. I have the toes to do this job, and I will do this job and become the new best pound for pound champion in the world." Known as a big showman, the 30-year old Mayweather stepped forward to Hatton during the conference, faced him and talked straight into his face. The 28-year old from Manchester just chewed his gum without saying a word. "Talk to me, talk to me," said Mayweather to his opponent before calling him "Vicky Fatten" and intimating that Hatton should be a wrestler instead of a boxer. Mayweather, wearing a $3,000 suit, then talked about all his projects, including his own box promotion company, his appearance on "Dancing with the Stars" and his new energy drink. After showing some off dancing steps with his partner, Mayweather had some advice for Hatton. "You'll get a big paycheck, and when I am done with you I'll collect more and more in the future because I am the best in the world," Mayweather said. "I am special like my mum always told me. I am worth $200 million." Mayweather is a six-time world champion in five weight divisions, including super featherweight, lightweight, super lightweight, welterweight and super welterweight. He showed his extraordinary boxing skills earlier this year when he defeated Oscar de la Hoya in May. The biggest fight of Hatton's career is already setting records, as tickets in Las Vegas were sold out in 35 minutes. "I am proud of this, but very sorry for all my fans, because they sent only 3,900 tickets to the UK," Hatton said. "And 10,000 people always follow my fights and most of them won't get a ticket." To appease the fans left without tickets, the MGM will provide roughly 50,000 closed-circuit seats with live coverage throughout their different hotels in Las Vegas. Tickets will be roughly $50 and most will be in British hands, as the Hatton camp stated that already 15,000 fans booked flights and hotels for the fight weekend. The Mayweather-Hatton fight has the potential to break records this December. The two undefeated fighters form the biggest matchup of two undefeated welterweights since the record setting mega-fight between de la Hoya and Felix Trinidad in 1999. www.yahoo.co.uk