By Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports
July 27, 2007





Unbeaten welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. has opted against retirement for the chance to make Ricky Hatton pay for his boastful comments.

Mayweather and Hatton agreed to terms Friday for a Dec. 8 welterweight fight in Las Vegas, less than three months after Mayweather had said he planned to retire following a victory over Oscar De La Hoya.

Hatton called out Mayweather both before and after his June 23 knockout of Jose Luis Castillo. On Friday, a deal was reached, though Mayweather said he is not certain if his WBC welterweight title will be at stake.

"He's definitely getting knocked out. I guarantee that," Mayweather said. "He's talked the talk. Let's see if he can walk the walk when he's in there against the best."

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The fight will pit a pair of unbeatens in a duel for supremacy at 147 pounds. Mayweather, 30, is 38-0 with 24 knockouts. He has held world titles at super featherweight, lightweight, super lightweight, welterweight and super welterweight.

Hatton, 28, is 43-0 with 31 knockouts. He's held titles at super lightweight and welterweight, but would be moving up from 140 pounds to fight Mayweather.

It is a match reminiscent of the 1999 battle between De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad.

Trinidad won a controversial decision over De La Hoya in that Sept. 18, 1999 bout, which held the record for the most pay-per-view sales in a non-heavyweight fight until Mayweather's bout with De La Hoya in May. The Trinidad-De La Hoya bout sold 1.4 million on pay-per-view; De La Hoya and Mayweather combined to sell 2.15 million for their super welterweight bout.

Mayweather adviser Leonard Ellerbe credited Hatton and his father, Ray, for stepping up to get the deal done. However, Ellerbe said he expected Mayweather to prove his superiority in the bout.

Though Hatton is moving up in weight, Ellerbe said Mayweather is truly a lightweight.

"Floyd is going in there and beating these guys even though he's really a lightweight and is giving up something like 20 pounds," Ellerbe said. "What's that tell you about him? When he stepped into the ring against Oscar, he weighed 148 and Oscar weighed 168.

"This isn't like Floyd has some huge size advantage. Floyd is just on another level skill-wise."

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Great news.My $$ on PBF.
Hatton is aggressive but Floyd is the too well technical & well rounded.
WAR PBF!!!

If it is going to happen , i can't wait to watch this!!

Awesome news, War PBF! Shut the haters the fuck up Floyd. I like Hatton but I don't see him winning this fight at all.

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=9690




quote:
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Leonard Ellerbe, adviser to WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (38-0, 24 KOs) told USA Today that plans are being finalized for a bout between Mayweather and Ricky Hatton (43-0, 31 KOs) on Dec. 8 at a venue to be determined and televised on HBO's Pay-Per-View arm.

Ellerbe said an official announcement may come as early as Monday and gave Hatton credit for stepping up to take the fight. It has not been determined if the bout will be for Mayweather' WBC title or a non-title attraction.

"This is a great fight for the fans," Ellerbe. "We have two young unbeaten fighters, at the top of their game, from two different countries going against each other. It's what boxing needs. I never thought he would do it, but Ricky Hatton deserves credit for stepping up to the plate. He asked for it and now he's going to get it. Floyd is a extremely excited. He wants to show Hatton that he's never fought at this level before. He's going to show him what it's like to step in the ring with the best fighter."

This fight is gonna be awesome. Right now I'm hoping Floyd will take it. But if Hatton wins that would be kewl too. I'm pretty much on the fence about who I want to win, leaning a little towards Floyd right now.

This is a fight where I guarantee you will not see Ricky Fatton. Floyd might come in cocky but Hatton was already in great shape vs Castillo and he hasn't had a very long layoff to get fat in the meantime. Hatton will be in unbelievable shape for this fight. I'm stoked already.

Floyd will K.O. Hatton? No. He has not the power for that. Hatton by hooks to the body.

hatton will end pretty boys' undefeated streak. the contract is out for mayweathers head and the hitman has accepted

Hatton by armbar........ i mean hatton by KO

This is going to be a great fight. I really like Hatton. I think Hatton has the skills to win this one.Hatton is moving up in weight and I hope this will not affect his speed to much because he is not that fast to start with.

I can't wait to see Hatton pound body punches and destroy Mayweathers body with his back on the ropes. That is if he can get him against the ropes and keep him there.

Floyd will K.O. Hatton? No. He has not the power for that. Hatton by hooks to the body.

Floyd by constant jabbing and moving until Hatton becomes so frustrated that he goes into his corner and gives up and cries.

WAR HITMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ill be supporting hatton all the way but i think floyd will take it, boxing over here needs him to win this for sure...

I'd love to see Hatton win! I just don't know if he has the skills to do it. Should be a great fight either way.

Hatton aint gonna be able to find Floyd, he's gonna feel like he's getting roughed up by an invisible man.

Skills are never what will beat Floyd. It will be intensity and pressure both of which Hatton can bring in droves. This will be an awesome fight. Hatton said he's gonna resurrect Duran vs Sugar Ray Leonard for this fight... and he's playing the part of Duran.

Skills are never what will beat Floyd. It will be intensity and pressure both of which Hatton can bring in droves. This will be an awesome fight. Hatton said he's gonna resurrect Duran vs Sugar Ray Leonard for this fight... and he's playing the part of Duran.

The only problem for that is Floyd has great tools to deal with intensity and pressure.

pretty boy goin down!

I think DLH gave PBF alot of problems with pressure but he just couldn't maintain the tempo at the end cause he's too old and his stamina has never been that great. Expect that to be Hattons strength in this fight.