Tweet
Ricky Hatton is "chomping at the bit" to begin negotiations over a superfight with Floyd Mayweather, according to his father Ray.
The likelihood of agreeing a showdown with Mayweather moved a step closer on Tuesday when the American's adviser Leonard Ellerbe declared they wanted to sign a deal "as soon as possible".
And Mayweather's eagerness to shelve his retirement plans has been welcomed by Hatton, whose drawing power in the United States has soared following Saturday's crushing four-round demolition of Jose Luis Castillo.
"We're up for the fight, you've got to be up for a fight like that," Ray Hatton told Radio Five Live.
"But it doesn't always end with the two fighters, there tends to be a few people getting in between.
"Ricky is chomping at the bit. I've spoken to him a little bit before all this came out and he said it's a no-brainer. It's a definite yes.
"Ricky will fight him anywhere - that's the difference between him and Floyd, who wants it on home turf."
Mayweather, who defeated Oscar de la Hoya at light-middleweight last month before announcing his retirement, is ready to step down a division in order to fight Hatton.
The chances of Hatton moving back up to welterweight following 12 uninspiring rounds against Luis Collazo last year appeared remote, but the 28-year-old Mancunian must compromise if he wants to face Mayweather.
Father Ray insists valuable lessons have been learned from the disappointing display against Collazo and a new approach to meeting the 147lbs limit will be taken.
"Ricky would be prepared to come up a weight. The two camps would have to get their head around it but it's not an obstacle, not for a fight of this magnitude," he said.
"This time if we knew we were going up to 147 we'd do it differently, we wouldn't have five weeks to go up to 147.
"We'd do it from day one of a 12-week training camp. Ideally you need longer to grow into the weight, as Floyd as has.
"We wouldn't make the same mistake of bringing Ricky in too heavy. We would even sacrifice some of the weight so he can keep his speed."
Brash-talking Mayweather has already started directing insults at Hatton, labelling him a "great phoney", and Ray believes any contest would be clash of "good versus bad".
"That's typical Floyd Mayweather. He disrespects people in one breath and praises in another," he said.
"It's quite amusing because we know the game and we've heard it all before. It's part of the hype and is good for boxing.
"You've got Mayweather who is the brash, ****y kid and then there's Ricky Hatton, the kid next door who everyone likes. It's good versus bad.
"Ricky thinks Floyd is a fantastic talent and pound for pound the best in the world.
"Ricky respects Floyd but told him that his four rounds against Castillo were more exciting than anything from the whole of Floyd's career.
"It was tongue in cheek but all good stuff. Ricky has been baiting Floyd, but it's tongue in cheek."
The likelihood of agreeing a showdown with Mayweather moved a step closer on Tuesday when the American's adviser Leonard Ellerbe declared they wanted to sign a deal "as soon as possible".
And Mayweather's eagerness to shelve his retirement plans has been welcomed by Hatton, whose drawing power in the United States has soared following Saturday's crushing four-round demolition of Jose Luis Castillo.
"We're up for the fight, you've got to be up for a fight like that," Ray Hatton told Radio Five Live.
"But it doesn't always end with the two fighters, there tends to be a few people getting in between.
"Ricky is chomping at the bit. I've spoken to him a little bit before all this came out and he said it's a no-brainer. It's a definite yes.
"Ricky will fight him anywhere - that's the difference between him and Floyd, who wants it on home turf."
Mayweather, who defeated Oscar de la Hoya at light-middleweight last month before announcing his retirement, is ready to step down a division in order to fight Hatton.
The chances of Hatton moving back up to welterweight following 12 uninspiring rounds against Luis Collazo last year appeared remote, but the 28-year-old Mancunian must compromise if he wants to face Mayweather.
Father Ray insists valuable lessons have been learned from the disappointing display against Collazo and a new approach to meeting the 147lbs limit will be taken.
"Ricky would be prepared to come up a weight. The two camps would have to get their head around it but it's not an obstacle, not for a fight of this magnitude," he said.
"This time if we knew we were going up to 147 we'd do it differently, we wouldn't have five weeks to go up to 147.
"We'd do it from day one of a 12-week training camp. Ideally you need longer to grow into the weight, as Floyd as has.
"We wouldn't make the same mistake of bringing Ricky in too heavy. We would even sacrifice some of the weight so he can keep his speed."
Brash-talking Mayweather has already started directing insults at Hatton, labelling him a "great phoney", and Ray believes any contest would be clash of "good versus bad".
"That's typical Floyd Mayweather. He disrespects people in one breath and praises in another," he said.
"It's quite amusing because we know the game and we've heard it all before. It's part of the hype and is good for boxing.
"You've got Mayweather who is the brash, ****y kid and then there's Ricky Hatton, the kid next door who everyone likes. It's good versus bad.
"Ricky thinks Floyd is a fantastic talent and pound for pound the best in the world.
"Ricky respects Floyd but told him that his four rounds against Castillo were more exciting than anything from the whole of Floyd's career.
"It was tongue in cheek but all good stuff. Ricky has been baiting Floyd, but it's tongue in cheek."
Comment