Hatton v Mayweather - signed in the next 48 hours?

[Steelie]

If it's come from Stuart Brennan then his source will be a good'un

Taken from the Manchester Evening News:

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....r_cracker.html

RICKY Hatton is expected to discover in the next 48 hours whether his mega-bucks showdown with Floyd Mayweather will take place later this year.

The Hitman's UK promoter Dennis Hobson is locked in talks with Mayweather's advisers and TV executives in the States, with a £5m offer to the five-weight world champion sitting on the table.

Hatton has already received the encouraging news that should his biggest pay-day fall through, "Golden Boy" Oscar de la Hoya has already offered to fill the gap, although that fight might have to wait until next summer, with Wembley touted as a likely venue.

Things have moved quickly since Hatton's fourth-round Las Vegas stoppage of Jose Luis Castillo just over a month ago.

Hatton delivered a few well-aimed barbs at Mayweather straight after that victory, declaring that he and Castillo had provided more action in four rounds than the master tactician from Michigan had managed in his whole career.

The teasing worked. Mayweather, said to be enjoying his "retirement" by touring night clubs, ordering gallons of the best champagne for his friends, hangers-on and bystanders, and then tossing 100-dollar bills to the crowd, had his ego pricked.

He soon declared that he was ready to come out of an abdication which had lasted little more than six weeks, and show this uppity Brit a thing or two.

But while his money-men were meeting to discuss his future at the weekend, the boxer - said to be worth £10m - was in a Miami nightclub partying with two American football stars and ten female admirers.

At one stage of the evening a bodyguard was sent to a SUV parked outside and returned with a black bag containing what an onlooker described as "yards and yards of gold jewellery." Mayweather was draped in the trinkets until he looked "like a Christmas tree."

Now it is hoped that a deal can be struck which would see Hatton and Mayweather meet, probably in Las Vegas on November 10.

Money will be a big stumbling block. Mayweather will insist on the lion's share as the biggest name fighter in the US, where the TV cash will provide the bulk of the purse.


But Hobson has argued that Hatton brings with him a huge support, as 9,000 of the 13,000 inside the Thomas and Mack Center in Vegas last month were British travelling fans, and that kind of live support will help to turn the fight from a big sporting occasion into a major event.

A reliable source told MEN Sport: "It's getting very, very close and I reckon that the next 24 hours will decide things one way or the other, 48 hours at the most, as it will take 24 to come to an agreement and another 24 to run it past all parties."

But de la Hoya threw another interesting possibility into the mix at the weekend when he declared that he intends to carry on boxing, despite his defeat by Mayweather in their meeting in May, in what was the richest fight in history.

De la Hoya has long wanted to fight in the UK, and his words have sparked renewed speculation that he and Hatton could meet at Wembley in the summer of 2008, with the new stadium keen to stage a huge boxing event.

The two men have become firm friends, but neither would find it hard to put that to one side, especially with a multi-million pound scrap in the offing.

"There's been rumblings going on about it," said the Mexican-American multiple world champion. "I respect Ricky. He's a great fighter, he's a great guy.

"If that fight does get made, fans all over the world will be ecstatic. They will see a fight. Ricky Hatton comes to fight. And that's what I love. If we ever do it, it will be a heck of a show, that's for sure."

But Hatton's target remains Mayweather, as victory would ensure he became the No1 pound-for-pound fighter on the planet.

[danchar123]

Lets hope so.

[SigmaMu]

I told people this is what Mayweather would do. He would jump back down to another weight class and skip over the Welter Weight Division. I freakin' knew it. He is scared to phuk with the Welter Weight Division right now. I bet if there were nothing but old men in there he would be all over it. KFC style has been Floyd's M.O as of late. I am just glad that Oscar De La Hoya has the balls to come down to the Welter Weight Division and offer some one a nice payday. I guess I wont complain too much about Hatton/Mayweather because even though, Floyd will take most of the money, Ricky wont be making chump change himself, so...I am glad Ricky will get a nice pay day himself.

And if Floyd does fight Hatton, PBF's legacy will be a little more secure.

[bzkfn]

If the fight happens, I go for Hatton to KO him inside 3 rounds

[JT Rock]

for the good news Steelie Hopefully this fight will come to fruition.... November 10th seems like a millenium away from now though, but they say good things come to those who wait, and I dont mind waiting for this one

[yoitsdan]

I may have left a mess in my chair, VERY exciting news.

[JT Rock]

I may have left a mess in my chair, VERY exciting news.

Loving the new Signature Dan

[yoitsdan]

I may have left a mess in my chair, VERY exciting news.

Loving the new Signature Dan

Don't worry JT sooner or later you'll be getting yours bro

I have to admit it's very witty.

[Gandalf]

Fingers crossed that it all pulls through. Should be a great fight.

We've all had opinions about how this fight might evolve...the chance to see those ideas have a chance to possibly play out is VERY exciting....

[OumaFan]

Should be good. PBF fighting either Hatton or Cotto is fine with me.

I remember how huge this would have been on this board right after Hatton beat Tsyzu and Floyd beat Gatti. I guess its not quite as big as it was then but still a huge fight.

[yoitsdan]

Should be good. PBF fighting either Hatton or Cotto is fine with me.

I remember how huge this would have been on this board right after Hatton beat Tsyzu and Floyd beat Gatti. I guess its not quite as big as it was then but still a huge fight.

I think the fight then would have been much better than the fight we'd see now, Mayweather had a much more exciting, crowd pleasing style when he was at 140, the way he's been fighting since the Gatti fight makes me think Hatton has an even better chance, cos I think his effective pressure will win the rounds like Oscar was doing in the first 8, except there'd be even more of it.

[OumaFan]

And people might be discounting Hatton a bit. I'm not favoring him but his style is kind of unique and could bother Floyd. All the grappling, that can wear a guy out. Although PBF's conditioning seems to be incredible. Plus Ricky gets in and out pretty quickly. As much as people talk about Cotto, and I do think Cotto would beat Ricky, he's a bit plodding, slow footed. I could see Floyd having an easier time keeping distance against Cotto than against Hatton.

[OumaFan]

Should be good. PBF fighting either Hatton or Cotto is fine with me.

I remember how huge this would have been on this board right after Hatton beat Tsyzu and Floyd beat Gatti. I guess its not quite as big as it was then but still a huge fight.

I think the fight then would have been much better than the fight we'd see now, Mayweather had a much more exciting, crowd pleasing style when he was at 140, the way he's been fighting since the Gatti fight makes me think Hatton has an even better chance, cos I think his effective pressure will win the rounds like Oscar was doing in the first 8, except there'd be even more of it.

Hatton bringing constant pressure could bring out the exciting side of Floyd. If he's gotta work harder to keep Ricky off.

Then again when Floyd's fought big strong pressure fighters lately he's been very conservative, see second Castillo fight, Baldomir. But Ricky should be able to get in quicker than those two, Baldomir's just a plodder compared to Hatton, or anybody really.

[Fenster]

I thought the £5m offer was laughed at?

[yoitsdan]

I thought the £5m offer was laughed at?

$10m? He wasn't laughing at $8m for Baldomir.