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Ricky Hatton says he has not been in better shape for several years thanks to his new training regime under Floyd Mayweather Snr.
The pride of Manchester is preparing for his fight with Paulie Malignaggi without trainer Billy Graham for the first time in his career, but believes the change could be a turning point as he reaches the end of his time in the ring.
Hatton lost his unbeaten record almost 12 months ago to Floyd Mayweather Jnr in Las Vegas and appeared jaded when claiming a points decision over Juan Lazcano in Manchester in the summer.
The controversial switch to Mayweather Snr followed, but Hatton is adamant he will be back to his very best against Malignaggi on November 22.
"I think it's been the best training camp I've had for three years really, I've got a new team round me, working on new things and running at altitude which I've not done before in my career," he told Sky Sports News.
Impressed
"I'm jumping out my skin and want to get in there and do everybody proud again.
"My stamina and conditioning was pretty good in the first place but this has benefited me no end.
"I'm very impressed with Floyd. If I'm shadow boxing he's there, if I'm on the heavy bag, he's there, if I'm running at 5.30am, he's there. He's a very hands-on trainer and that's why he is recognised as the best trainer in the world.
"Things couldn't be going any better. I think I needed a confidence booster after the Mayweather fight and the one at the City Of Manchester Stadium as I wasn't in the best of health for that one, but I've got it back from this training camp.
"Billy (Graham) was always a character, and obviously Floyd is the same. So we've been getting on like a house on fire really. His training methods are very different from Billy's but I'm hoping that everything I learn from Floyd just gets piled on top of what I learned from Billy.
"I'm expecting people to see a new Ricky Hatton."
Asked for his thoughts on Malignaggi, Hatton admitted he is expecting a tough night against the IBF light-welterweight champion.
"He presents a very difficult challenge," he added. "He's very fast, and has an awkward, tricky style when he roles off the ropes and likes to talk when he's in the ring apparently, but that's the kind of thing I've been working on with Floyd - not to lose my cool.
"He looks a bit of a 'ponce' to be honest but he's a lot tougher than he looks and he's a good fighter and to be honest he's not a bad lad when the cameras go off and the press disappears.
"But come November 22 he will be my sworn enemy and I really do believe I can be the first person to can stop him.
Stiff punch
"As fast as he is on the back foot and on the move it's going to take a lot to hold me off, keep me away for 12 rounds, he's going to need a stiff punch to stop me in my tracks.
"I think technically I've improved massively over the last few weeks and I expect people to be surprised with my boxing ability and not just my marauding pressure."
Hatton claimed thoughts of retirement surfaced following the lacklustre victory over Lazcano, when he is thought to have been suffering with a virus, but added that he expects to prolong his career into 2009 - starting with victory a week on Saturday.
"I don't think it's going to be the last fight for Ricky Hatton," he said. "I was seriously thinking about hanging the gloves up after the Lazcano performance because obviously I got beat by Mayweather, no shame in that, but against Lazcano I didn't exactly set the house on fire.
"I was seriously thinking if the best days were behind me and I think I needed this training camp to prove to me that I've got plenty left in the battery.
"I do believe I can do it and it's the best I've felt in three years, and that's down to working on new things which I've not done for a couple of years.
"What better can you get, going back to the scene of the crime where I lost my unbeaten record, fighting against my closest rival - another world champion - and hopefully I can do the country proud."
interesting article from skysports.com
The pride of Manchester is preparing for his fight with Paulie Malignaggi without trainer Billy Graham for the first time in his career, but believes the change could be a turning point as he reaches the end of his time in the ring.
Hatton lost his unbeaten record almost 12 months ago to Floyd Mayweather Jnr in Las Vegas and appeared jaded when claiming a points decision over Juan Lazcano in Manchester in the summer.
The controversial switch to Mayweather Snr followed, but Hatton is adamant he will be back to his very best against Malignaggi on November 22.
"I think it's been the best training camp I've had for three years really, I've got a new team round me, working on new things and running at altitude which I've not done before in my career," he told Sky Sports News.
Impressed
"I'm jumping out my skin and want to get in there and do everybody proud again.
"My stamina and conditioning was pretty good in the first place but this has benefited me no end.
"I'm very impressed with Floyd. If I'm shadow boxing he's there, if I'm on the heavy bag, he's there, if I'm running at 5.30am, he's there. He's a very hands-on trainer and that's why he is recognised as the best trainer in the world.
"Things couldn't be going any better. I think I needed a confidence booster after the Mayweather fight and the one at the City Of Manchester Stadium as I wasn't in the best of health for that one, but I've got it back from this training camp.
"Billy (Graham) was always a character, and obviously Floyd is the same. So we've been getting on like a house on fire really. His training methods are very different from Billy's but I'm hoping that everything I learn from Floyd just gets piled on top of what I learned from Billy.
"I'm expecting people to see a new Ricky Hatton."
Asked for his thoughts on Malignaggi, Hatton admitted he is expecting a tough night against the IBF light-welterweight champion.
"He presents a very difficult challenge," he added. "He's very fast, and has an awkward, tricky style when he roles off the ropes and likes to talk when he's in the ring apparently, but that's the kind of thing I've been working on with Floyd - not to lose my cool.
"He looks a bit of a 'ponce' to be honest but he's a lot tougher than he looks and he's a good fighter and to be honest he's not a bad lad when the cameras go off and the press disappears.
"But come November 22 he will be my sworn enemy and I really do believe I can be the first person to can stop him.
Stiff punch
"As fast as he is on the back foot and on the move it's going to take a lot to hold me off, keep me away for 12 rounds, he's going to need a stiff punch to stop me in my tracks.
"I think technically I've improved massively over the last few weeks and I expect people to be surprised with my boxing ability and not just my marauding pressure."
Hatton claimed thoughts of retirement surfaced following the lacklustre victory over Lazcano, when he is thought to have been suffering with a virus, but added that he expects to prolong his career into 2009 - starting with victory a week on Saturday.
"I don't think it's going to be the last fight for Ricky Hatton," he said. "I was seriously thinking about hanging the gloves up after the Lazcano performance because obviously I got beat by Mayweather, no shame in that, but against Lazcano I didn't exactly set the house on fire.
"I was seriously thinking if the best days were behind me and I think I needed this training camp to prove to me that I've got plenty left in the battery.
"I do believe I can do it and it's the best I've felt in three years, and that's down to working on new things which I've not done for a couple of years.
"What better can you get, going back to the scene of the crime where I lost my unbeaten record, fighting against my closest rival - another world champion - and hopefully I can do the country proud."
interesting article from skysports.com
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