It is the most eagerly anticipated fight of the decade and has divided opinion across the boxing fraternity. Can Ricky Hatton's fierce willpower and aggression overcome the silky skills of Floyd Mayweather, the 'best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet'?
skysports.com exclusively canvassed six of Britain and Ireland's finest past and present champions for their views on 'Undefeated'.
Nigel Benn The former world middleweight and super middleweight champion spoke to skysports.com courtesy of SJ Dent and Co sports memorabilia shop:
"I like Ricky, he is a personal friend of mine and he asked me to walk in to the ring carrying his belts for this fight against Mayweather, but I have decided against doing that.
"I love Ricky, but this will be his hardest fight, similar to when I fought Gerald McClennan (in Benn's epic victory against the American in 1995). I certainly wish him all the best and he can win on points, but Mayweather is a slippery character and Ricky will have to watch it."
Lloyd Honeyghan: Former undisputed world welterweight champion who shook up the world when he claimed the title from Don Curry in Las Vegas in 1986:
"This is going to be a classic between a fighter, in Ricky Hatton, and a boxer, in Floyd Mayweather. It is a tough one to predict, and it is going to be the hardest fight of their careers for both boxers.
"Ricky has a great chance, but he has got to be a British bulldog and cut down the size of the ring.
"He has got to go forward with a lot of lateral movement. If he does that he can keep out of the way of those dangerous Mayweather uppercuts and jabs.
"It's all about lateral movement in some ways I've got the blueprint because that is how I beat Don Curry to take the world welterweight belt."
Michael Watson Former Commonwealth middleweight champion and one-time rival to Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn:
"Ricky can win the fight over the distance. I've seen the expression of Mayweather during the press conferences and he looks worried.
"Ricky has all the capabilities of winning this fight. He is highly determined with great self-belief and has all the ingredients of a Michael Watson.
"That's what I admire about him. Ricky Hatton will win because of his devastating body punching. What do they say? "Kill the body and the head must follow."
Steve Collins: Ireland's former world middleweight and world super middleweight champion:
"It might be my heart ruling my head but Ricky can jump on him and stop him early. I don't think Mayweather rates fighters from the UK, but never underestimate the intelligence of Ricky, who is a street wise, clever fighter.
"Don't get me wrong Mayweather is a class act and has got talent but if Ricky stands toe to toe with him he can win.
"Ricky is more like a South American fighter in his style and stopped another South American in his last fight with shots to the body which is virtually unheard by a British fighter. Ricky has to jump on him early to stop him."
Junior Witter Bradford's reigning WBC light welterweight champion:
"I think the first couple of rounds will be tight, before Mayweather will run away with it. It will take Mayweather a couple of rounds to adjust to Hatton's style.
"When you look at the skill level between Mayweather and the skill level of Hatton it is too big a gap, and I think the fight is going to come down to boxing skill.
"Hatton has the heart, stamina and determination but there is no doubt about it when it comes down to skill there is a massive gap.
"Hatton jumped into Kostya Tszyu and Tszyu went into a war with him. I just can't see Mayweather doing that because he never gets that emotional in a fight.
"I also cannot see Hatton getting him into a brawl because he has not got the footwork to pin him in a corner. I see Mayweather winning with a late stoppage."
Carl Froch: Unbeaten British super middleweight champion.
"I honestly think Ricky can pull it off. He was in deep water and I had my doubts when he fought Kostya Tszyu but he triumphed then and I think he can do it again.
"He's a rough fighter and terrific handful. Mayweather faces pressure, pressure, pressure from Ricky and Mayweather likes room to box, so he won't like it one bit.
I would have had a heart attack if Witter said Hatton could beat PBF. Afterall, Witter himself thinks he could outbox Hatton.
exactly plus he criticized hattons footwork.... sour grapes especially seeing as it looks as though he's gonna wind up defending his belt against hattons scraps
Can Floyd absorb?-Eubank
Mayweather has many, many championship wins in different weight category's and hasn't come unstuck yet so he can obviously adjust, but can he absorb?
Hatton is this superb body puncher, so you may find out whether he can soak it up and more importantly suck it up.
Hatton's following in Naseem's footsteps and deserves credit. Speaking of Naseem, when he found himself on the wrong end of the punches, he walked away. So he obviously wasn't a proper package because he couldn't fight.
There are three basic facets to a pugilist- boxer, fighter, puncher. You have to be the complete package. Mayweather can box, but can he fight or punch?
When people used to say to me who is the best boxer in the country, I would say Colin McMillan. When people used to say who is the best fighter in the country, I'd say Paul Hodkinson. If they said who is the best puncher, Nigel Benn.
I was the most successful, because what I had was abit of everything. I could strut and pose but also stand and fight, I could give a punch but also take a punch.
I would never have won the first Benn and second Watson epics if I couldn't, or gone the distance with Calzaghe, who's power and skills have deteriorated.
I enjoyed being able to articulate and philosophise to the masses, before and after my 24 championship contests, and prove wrong public perception by taking my beatings, allowing me to continue during and beyond my professional career.
I think Mayweather should get his jab going. You know, there was a sign on the wall of my old gymnasium in New York which read: 'The right hand will take you around the block, the jab can take you around the world.' That's a fact.
But you underestimate a British Bulldog who has the eye of the tiger at your peril. You might find out whether the Pretty Boy is a great fighter or not.-EUBANK
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I heard he's gonna make a comeback in his 40's when he's fat and bald and he's gonna call himself the punchin preacher
we used to call ours the pumping priest, but thats for entirely different reasons.
ah of course he's turned to god nowadays.... doesn't he run his own parish in tenerife??
I heard he's gonna make a comeback in his 40's when he's fat and bald and he's gonna call himself the punchin preacher
It would have been awesome but Benn has said he wants to wash his hands with the 'Dark Destroyer character' so it wouldn't look right...
ah of course he's turned to god nowadays.... doesn't he run his own parish in tenerife??
Some interesting thoughts from past champions especially one of my favourites Michael Watson. It's good to see he still follows and loves the sport which nearly killed him.
18y ago
Benn, Honeyghan, Watson, Collins, Witter, Froch on Hatton-Mayweather | BoxingScene Community