Hatton eager to wrest Manny's best fighter label

Ricky Hatton is so confident of a victory over Manny Pacquiao he plans to go on a Caribbean cruise with his family before he begins his 12-week training for the anticipated fight in May 2 in Las Vegas.

Hatton held a press conference at the Village Hotel in Ashton Under Lyne near Manchester Thursday to announce his eagerness to fight Paccquiao and come out as the new pound-for-pound champion.

Hatton, who will stake his IBO light-welterweight (140 lbs) crown against Pacquiao at the MGM Grand, has once again tapped Floyd Mayweather Sr. to train him along with Lee Beard.

The British superstar is glad that the fight is happening, after weeks of uncertainty as to how the purse should be divided. As it is, both fighters will earn no less than $15 million each.

“With the on-off, on-off nature of last week, I was devastated. Finally it came to a head last week and I said to my dad [Ray Hatton, his manager] and my lawyer Gareth Williams that if it was not on by [last] weekend, we would have to call it off,” he told the British press.

“I really needed to know in my mind who I was fighting because the whole family are just about to go on our annual cruise – we’re off to the Caribbean – until mid-February before I start a 12-week training camp with Floyd (Mayweather Sr.) and Lee Beard.

“I will be speaking to Floyd shortly, but it looks like I’ll go to Vegas for eight weeks this time before I fight,” added Hatton, hoping that a victory over Pacquiao will lead him to a rematch against the still-retired Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The undefeated American, who said recently he’s not too keen on coming out of retirement, dealt Hatton his only loss so far.

“I’ve challenged once for it, I’m focused, I’ve got my eye on the prize. I’ve always said it, but I don’t think anyone in the world can beat me. Nor can I see this fight going 12 rounds. I’m convinced I will beat Manny,” said Hatton.

“He is a great champion, and the only way to become a great fighter is to box great champions. It is an honor and a privilege to be sharing a ring with him,” he added of Pacquiao, boxing’s biggest star.