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Duran inspires Hatton....
Duran inspires Hatton..........
If you are wondering how Ricky Hatton remains so confident ahead of his fight with Floyd Mayweather Junior and why he is so calm when the majority of the boxing world predicts his defeat, well that is because the Hitman has been inspired by a former great.
Hatton saw his boxing hero written off a number of times. Especially when this particular legend faced a slick, hyped up American fighter who bore certain similarities to Mayweather. In the eyes of Hatton's idol Roberto Duran, no-one is invincible. And when the Manchester man steps into the ring in December he will have that same belief.
27 years ago Duran faced Sugar Ray Leonard at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal and was undoubtedly the underdog. It was presumed the lightweight champion from Panama would struggle against his quicker and naturally heavier opponent.
Leonard was the WBC welterweight champion with an impressive undefeated record and an Olympic gold medal. He was supposed to give Duran a boxing lesson - with the odds 9-5 in his favour - but that wasn't how it turned out.
Duran used all his experience and physical strength to impose his will on Leonard and draw him into a brawl. From the opening bell Leonard fought Duran's fight and was tricked into ignoring his boxing skills and lateral movement. After a gruelling toe-to-toe contest Duran was announced a worthy winner.
It was a victory that will go down forever in boxing history and something Hatton will be striving to emulate in Las Vegas. Does he have a chance of following in Duran's footsteps? Well he will be glad to hear he has his hero's support:
"Can Hatton beat Mayweather? Let me give you an example", Duran told skysports.com.
"A lot of people said that I couldn't beat Leonard, and I beat him. Who is Mayweather that he can't be beat? You tell me that? He's a great boxer but no boxer is unbeatable."
If Hatton's confidence needed any more of a boost he had the good fortune to meet his favourite fighter in Manchester this week. Duran was visiting the UK giving a tour of after-dinner speeches and was more than happy to pass on some tips of how to beat the Pretty Boy.
"I told Ricky exactly what he should do," continued Duran. "But I will keep that private. Floyd can be beaten, but Ricky needs an intelligent strategy."
Hatton will also be encouraged that Duran is a big fan of his no-nonsense approach and believes that fighting at welterweight will work in the Hitman's favour.
"He comes to fight; he doesn't come to clown around. I can see the similarities between me and Hatton and I think coming up in weight will be a benefit. He will be stronger and more powerful. It will be an advantage."
But the legend from El Chorrillo also urges on the side of caution. He still expects Hatton to be facing the fight of his life and a Floyd Mayweather in peak condition. Duran certainly isn't convinced by the stories Mayweather will be distracted by his TV appearances on Dancing with the Stars.
"I don't think it will be a distraction. He is not drinking or staying out to 4am. Being on a dance show is a different story. One or two hours dancing is not going to make much difference."
The scene appears to be set for a re-run of the 'Brawl in Montreal'. Hatton the strong pressure fighter against the skilful flashy Mayweather. Albeit the two protagonists are still a rung below Duran and Leonard in superstar status but the fight has all makings of that legendary contest. So will the result be the same, will the underdog make a fool of the bookmakers again and produce the performance of his life? Well Duran for one is confident of that.
"It's going to be exactly like that, you watch. That's what I believe because Hatton reminds me a lot of myself. Mayweather is not going to change for this fight and Ricky will make some adjustments. But overall he will come to fight."
Hatton saw his boxing hero written off a number of times. Especially when this particular legend faced a slick, hyped up American fighter who bore certain similarities to Mayweather. In the eyes of Hatton's idol Roberto Duran, no-one is invincible. And when the Manchester man steps into the ring in December he will have that same belief.
27 years ago Duran faced Sugar Ray Leonard at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal and was undoubtedly the underdog. It was presumed the lightweight champion from Panama would struggle against his quicker and naturally heavier opponent.
Leonard was the WBC welterweight champion with an impressive undefeated record and an Olympic gold medal. He was supposed to give Duran a boxing lesson - with the odds 9-5 in his favour - but that wasn't how it turned out.
Duran used all his experience and physical strength to impose his will on Leonard and draw him into a brawl. From the opening bell Leonard fought Duran's fight and was tricked into ignoring his boxing skills and lateral movement. After a gruelling toe-to-toe contest Duran was announced a worthy winner.
It was a victory that will go down forever in boxing history and something Hatton will be striving to emulate in Las Vegas. Does he have a chance of following in Duran's footsteps? Well he will be glad to hear he has his hero's support:
"Can Hatton beat Mayweather? Let me give you an example", Duran told skysports.com.
"A lot of people said that I couldn't beat Leonard, and I beat him. Who is Mayweather that he can't be beat? You tell me that? He's a great boxer but no boxer is unbeatable."
If Hatton's confidence needed any more of a boost he had the good fortune to meet his favourite fighter in Manchester this week. Duran was visiting the UK giving a tour of after-dinner speeches and was more than happy to pass on some tips of how to beat the Pretty Boy.
"I told Ricky exactly what he should do," continued Duran. "But I will keep that private. Floyd can be beaten, but Ricky needs an intelligent strategy."
Hatton will also be encouraged that Duran is a big fan of his no-nonsense approach and believes that fighting at welterweight will work in the Hitman's favour.
"He comes to fight; he doesn't come to clown around. I can see the similarities between me and Hatton and I think coming up in weight will be a benefit. He will be stronger and more powerful. It will be an advantage."
But the legend from El Chorrillo also urges on the side of caution. He still expects Hatton to be facing the fight of his life and a Floyd Mayweather in peak condition. Duran certainly isn't convinced by the stories Mayweather will be distracted by his TV appearances on Dancing with the Stars.
"I don't think it will be a distraction. He is not drinking or staying out to 4am. Being on a dance show is a different story. One or two hours dancing is not going to make much difference."
The scene appears to be set for a re-run of the 'Brawl in Montreal'. Hatton the strong pressure fighter against the skilful flashy Mayweather. Albeit the two protagonists are still a rung below Duran and Leonard in superstar status but the fight has all makings of that legendary contest. So will the result be the same, will the underdog make a fool of the bookmakers again and produce the performance of his life? Well Duran for one is confident of that.
"It's going to be exactly like that, you watch. That's what I believe because Hatton reminds me a lot of myself. Mayweather is not going to change for this fight and Ricky will make some adjustments. But overall he will come to fight."
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