By Mark Vester
Unbeaten Ricky Hatton has been watching tapes of the two fights that gave Floyd Mayweather Jr. the most trouble and feels that consistent pressure is the key to beating the current pound-for-pound champion.
"The two times he's come close to losing - the last time out against (Oscar) De La Hoya and the first time out against Jose Luis Castillo - are when people put pressure on him," Hatton told Sky Sports News. "No-one puts the pressure on quite like I put the pressure on, so I think I've got a wonderful chance."
The two men clash on December 8 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Mayweather defends his WBC welterweight title and HBO pay-per-view will televise.
He expects the customary mind games from Mayweather, but promises to not fall in the same trap as other opponents have in the past.
"I think Floyd tries to intimidate his opponents at press conferences and weigh-ins," Hatton said. "He tries to insult them and get under their skin, but anybody who knows me knows that when you throw insults at me, I have never been shy to laugh at myself. So when he doesn't get the reaction he's expecting, I think the mind games might just turn on him. I'm looking forward to it."
"The better the opponent, the better I've always been. I think the best Ricky Hatton will turn up on December 8. I can't wait."
Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingscene@hotmail.com