RICKY HATTON will be roaring for Miguel Cotto in Saturday’s epic battle against Floyd Mayweather Jr, but reckons he’s backing a loser.
‘The Hitman’ will be tuned in to BoxNation watching the legends clash in front of a sell-out crowd at the MGM Grand Garden, Las Vegas.
Former two-weight world champion Hatton, fought Mayweather in the same ring back in December 2007, losing in ten rounds.
And like many pundits he is expecting Puerto Rican Cotto not to surrender his WBA Super world light-middleweight crown without a titanic effort.
Hatton, 33, said: “I would rather watch Cotto than Mayweather every day, but you have to give credit where it is due.
“Cotto is a wonderful fighter, but although I don’t really see eye-to-eye with Mayweather he is an absolute boxing genius.
“I do think fighters like myself and Cotto bring the best out of Mayweather so people in Las Vegas and watching on BoxNation will see a good fight.
“I think it could have a similar pattern to my fight against Mayweather
“It will be hairy scary for a few rounds, but I think Mayweather will take the sting out of him and come through on a late stoppage or points.
“I hope Cotto wins, but having shared a ring with Mayweather I can tell you he is different class even to some of the very best. "
More than 30,000 fans travelled to Las Vegas to watch Hatton’s brave effort against Mayweather and despite their differences the Mancunian says the American was his best ever opponent
Hatton didn’t confirm his retirement until last summer, but his final contest was when got knocked out in two rounds by Manny Pacquiao three years ago this week.
He added: “I didn’t get a chance to find out how good Pacquiao was, but Floyd was really, really good.
“Fair play to Manny for what he did to me, but having seen what Floyd can do for plenty of rounds I have to side with him and say he is the best I faced.”
Mayweather v Cotto is live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 456/Virgin Ch. 546) this Saturday. Join at www.boxnation.com
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