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Ricky Hatton says Floyd Mayweather Jr will have to 'kill him' to maintain his standing as the world's best pound-for-pound fighter.
The Hitman will put his perfect 43-0 record on the line against the man who has reigned supreme in five weight categories.
Mayweather defeated Oscar de la Hoya last time out at light middleweight, but is returning to welterweight to put his WBC title on the line against Hatton.
But as 29-year-old Hatton nears the event in Las Vegas on December 8 he insists there is much more than a single belt at stake.
Incentive
He told Sky Sports News: "I don't see a man that I want to beat more than any other, all I can see when I look across at Floyd Mayweather is that number one pound-for-pound fighter on the planet title that he holds.
"All I see is that title that I'm going to rip from him. I've never been more certain.
"He'll have to kill me and stop me breathing to stop me beating him."
Proof
Despite struggling in his only previous step up to welterweight against Luis Collazo, Hatton is adamant he will backup his bullish predictions.
"My sparring partners have been absolutely sensational so things couldn't be better," he added. "My timing is perfect at the minute.
"It's the biggest fight of my life and I'm in the best shape that I could possibly be.
"I'm ahead of schedule. Really I've just got to be careful I don't overcook it now."
The Hitman will put his perfect 43-0 record on the line against the man who has reigned supreme in five weight categories.
Mayweather defeated Oscar de la Hoya last time out at light middleweight, but is returning to welterweight to put his WBC title on the line against Hatton.
But as 29-year-old Hatton nears the event in Las Vegas on December 8 he insists there is much more than a single belt at stake.
Incentive
He told Sky Sports News: "I don't see a man that I want to beat more than any other, all I can see when I look across at Floyd Mayweather is that number one pound-for-pound fighter on the planet title that he holds.
"All I see is that title that I'm going to rip from him. I've never been more certain.
"He'll have to kill me and stop me breathing to stop me beating him."
Proof
Despite struggling in his only previous step up to welterweight against Luis Collazo, Hatton is adamant he will backup his bullish predictions.
"My sparring partners have been absolutely sensational so things couldn't be better," he added. "My timing is perfect at the minute.
"It's the biggest fight of my life and I'm in the best shape that I could possibly be.
"I'm ahead of schedule. Really I've just got to be careful I don't overcook it now."
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