Floyd Mayweather Lauds Rival Ricky Hatton in Brutally Honest Admission

Tickets at MGM Grand Arena were sold out when Floyd Mayweather and Ricky Hatton fought. Over 16,000 Ricky Hatton fans converged at the venue on 8th December 2007 to witness the fight. In the United States, the battle was purchased by 920,000 people on HBO, while in the United Kingdom, Sky Box Office reported sales of 1,150,000. 

The fight started with Hatton trying to outmanoeuvre ‘The Money’ from the early rounds. But as Floyd Mayweather started applying constant pressure, the Briton, left with no answers of his own buckled in. Finally, a barrage of punches from the former sent the Mancunian to the canvas by the tenth round. But, by all accounts, the match lived up to the hype it raised. As a decade-and-a-half filled in, both pursued distinct routes, eventually leading to retirements. Or, perhaps carving out space for rejuvenated second innings?

Floyd Mayweather admires his old adversary

All Floyd Mayweather had to do was put on the Manchester United t-shirt. He knew Ricky Hatton, the challenger to his WBC and The Ring title was a die-hard Manchester City fan. The American’s gesture was enough to rile up the Briton during the press conference before their acclaimed fight.

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Ricky reportedly questions referee Joe Cortez’s decision to this day. But, the two greats have only respect for each other despite so many years’ passing. Appreciating his former opponent’s return in November, Mayweather said, “I’m not bragging or boasting, just speaking true facts. “I take my hat off to Ricky Hatton, who came back this year and say he’s a warrior. To become great, you must face great opposition.”  

Floyd Mayweather retired from the professional circuit in 2017. Aged forty, he probably knew he had a few more years of boxing. And off he went charging onto the exhibition scene, globe-trotting and, as usual, winning every bout that crossed his path. 

Ricky Hatton’s thoughts on a Mayweather rematch

At the other end, Ricky Hatton retired much early, post-defeat at the hands of Ukrainian Vyacheslav Senchenko. Even though he called it quits on boxing, the sport believed that ‘The Hitman’ still had a role in the larger scheme. He is a trainer to Nathan Gorman, Zhanat Zhakiyanov, and Irish champion Paul Upton. Additionally, he is connected with the Furys as well. Besides training Tommy Fury, Tyson’s half-brother, Ricky, sat in The Gypsy King‘s corner during the first fight against Deontay Wilder.

On 8th November, following his old foe’s lead, Hatton fought a non-scoring exhibition against the Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera Tapia at the Manchester Arena. 

Barely five days after Hatton faced Barrera, Mayweather faced YouTuber Deji Olatunji in Dubai. Hatton said he would have to “look into it” when asked about a rematch with ‘The Money’. Nonetheless, he did not completely shut off the option. He said, “To share the ring with Floyd Mayweather again would be something else.”

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