Question: Who are the leading contenders to Tszyu?

Hatton: Zab Judah is still a danger. Arturo Gatti is knocking on the door. Mitchell is still a contender. I believe if anybody out there can beat Tszyu, I think I can do it. Yes, he's the best junior welterweight of all times. But I know how to beat him and that if anybody is capable then maybe I'm the one. I have to prove myself before I have the right to challenge Tszyu though. People will take me a lot more seriously, and will say he is knocking on the door after I beat Phillips. When I won my senior title in 1997 and decided to look at turning pro, I said Kostya Tszyu was my goal. But Vince Phillips beat him a few weeks later! But I always knew that, one day, our paths would cross. That one day I'd be fighting Tszyu as the big test. I actually met him just after he beat Judah in Las Vegas, at the hotel, I said to him "Hello, my name is Ricky Hatton. I will be fighting you in three years time," and he just said "Good luck!". He didn't have a clue who I was (Laughs)! But I believe I'm still on course to meet Tszyu in the next 18 months, I hope so.

Question: Is there one key to defeating Phillips?

Hatton: Mitchell showed fantastic speed when he fought Phillips. Although I cannot be more opposite of Mitchell, I think it is important to show good defense in this fight. I know I am a lot quicker than Phillips. I have good footwork, and hope to make him miss. It is good to be somewhat elusive against Phillips, and get in a lot of punches to the body and head. I have to continue to be active and throw a lot of punches, but not stand right in front of him.

Question: Because you are so successful in England, has that kept you from fighting in smaller venues in the United States?

Hatton: Because I do bring in good crowds in England, or Manchester shall we say, I think it is good business to fight here. I am hoping that if I beat Phillips in the style I hope to do it, I will be able to pull in big crowds in America as well. I think the American public will take to me because I wear my heart on my sleeve, and go forward and attack all day long and I've been that way for like four years and there's no going back. I was that way as a young kid too, just loved getting stuck in and got abit of a reputation for that early on. I think if I show I can do it against guys like Phillips and other guys at that level, people will stand up and really take me seriously. I need wins like this. I have boxed in the U.S. in the past, but I believe I have had a lot of good wins at this level. I would like to think I could perform and do it the same. Maybe people will say Hatton is good and not just all hype. He can fight as well. I just have to prove it against the top guys.

Question: Is there any venue you have dreamed about fighting?

Hatton: I already achieved my dream by fighting at Madison Square Garden for my second pro fight. I felt like I won the world title already, and I only had two professional fights. Madison Square Garden stands alone as far as boxing venues are concerned, and I dream about going back there again. I have boxed in Atlantic City. I went to Detroit. I would like to go to Las Vegas, where all of the top shows and fighters are. It would be a dream come true.

Question: How much of a distraction has Junior Witter been for you?

Hatton: Witter has not been a distraction at all. When you have someone like him who mouths off to you, there would be something wrong with you if you did not rise to it. I look at him and laugh. I have more to gain in beating Phillips than beating Witter. It would be a big fight in Britain, but Philips has fought the contenders. I want to make a name for myself in the U.S., and a fight against Witter would not help that one bit because he does not really have a world ranking, or a belt that I need. Witter does bad mouth me, but he should be on his hands and knees kissing my feet. He has knocked out his last 10 opponents, but I could knock them out with two hands tied behind my back. He has not even fought a good domestic contender like Eamonn Magee. I have more to gain by fighting guys like Phillips. It is not going to raise my profile in the U.S. People remember Witter’s fight with Judah, and he did not do himself any favors. He ran more miles than he does in training. I want to start climbing the world rankings and get a shot a Tszyu. A win over Phillips would do that, but a win over Witter would not. He is like a boil on my ass, so I would like to lace them up and get rid of him. Maybe we can get this fight out of the way in the summer and get on with my business. So far, Witter is talking the talk and not walking the walk. In fact, he is boring me now.

Question: Can you talk about your reaction after getting knocked down by Magee?

Hatton: Magee was shouting me out, and appeared on many of my undercards. During those fights, he stunk the place up. I had visions of me winning in good style. I did not show him the respect he deserved, and caused myself problems. Getting knocked down early was the best thing that could have happened to me. I got that out of the way. If it had not happened there, it could have happened against Phillips or Witter. I know that will not happen really. It was just one of those fights I had to get out of the way to move on.

Question: Do you feel like your next fight has to be in the U.S. regardless of what happens?

Hatton: I feel I need to fight in the United States. There is a lot being put on me back home, mainly by Witter. I want to be fighting in the U.S. against top opponents in order to put myself in line for a shot with Tszyu. I need to be defeating people like Mickey Ward and Gatti. I will not be able to get rid of Witter until I beat him. It is a fight I want, and a fight I know I would win. I have nothing to gain from it, but I hope the fight comes off. If Frank Warren sees a better fight out there for me, I am sure he will take it. I want to be fighting the top-10 American guys in the near future. Maybe I could have taken this step last year. I see guys fight on television and I feel like I can handle myself on that level. Phillips is a step in that direction. It is a fight I need in order to progress. It has made sense for me to fight as often as I have in order to build up my record and reputation. Now is the time to go for it.

Question: Fights with Gatti and Ward would be very, very exciting...

Hatton: (Interrupts) Yeah, I love Gatti and Ward. If your not a fan of Gatti and Ward, your not a fan of boxing. I sat watching them punch lumps out of eachother and said that I'd love to fight them, it would be great for the fans.

Question: Would you try to out box them or would you match fire with fire?

Hatton: I will always force the fight and try to entertain the fans in every fight I have, however many more fights I have left. But remember, I can switch up if I need to and do abit of boxing. Although I certainly don't think I could stand off a Kostya Tszyu, or a Floyd Mayweather if he comes up, and be too successful. I could maybe live with a Mitchell or a Judah when it comes to boxing, but not Tszyu. I've been told that Tszyu has never been out boxed in his life. Yes I probably can out box Gatti and Ward, but that's not part of my make up. If a fight with one of those two can be made, I'm going in there punching from bell to bell because that's what I'm about. At the start of my career though, I just wanted to get abit of experience. So they had me travelling all over the country, and I was also going to the U.S., Germany. My style wasn't rushing in and taking risks because nobody knew who I was back then, the Atlanta Olympics had come too soon for me because I was only 17 and then I was on the recieving end of, shall we say, a controversial decision at the World Youth championships and so I was still abit of an unknown quantity. But anyway, so at the start I was on undercards or small shows so I was just doing abit of boxing on solid journeyman-types. But after a couple of years I stepped it up abit and that's when I was throwing more leather and building my fan base and just trying to make things exciting because that's what boxing is all about.

Question: Do you feel an emphatic win would convince American's to come over and fight in Britain?

Hatton: This fight is a step in the right direction. Phillips gave Mitchell a run for his money. I am not hoping to just beat Phillips; I hope to do it in style. I know a lot of people in the U.S. are getting excited about me. I am going to be in some fantastic fights. Fans like quick knockouts, and they want to see me do it against some of the top guys. I would love to come to America and fight. I have a fantastic fan base in Britain - literally all Man City footy fans (Manchester City soccer fans) are Ricky Hatton fans. Why? Because I force the fight. With my style, I think I could have the same success in the U.S. My style is all action. I come forward with a lot of body punches and shots to the head. That is what the fight fans want to see. They want to be entertained.