Mayweather Undaunted, Hatton Unflustered for 'Undefeated' By Steve Kim (Sept 18, 2007) Send this page to friend Give us your feedback In an act that has gotten as predictable as it is tired and tedious, Floyd Mayweather would pick up where he left off when promoting his May bout with Oscar De La Hoya by disparaging his December 8th opponent, Ricky Hatton, relentlessly and then getting into his mug as they posed for the customary face-off. Monday afternoon at the Universal City Walk near Los Angeles was the kick-off of a five city press tour to promote a bout that has been billed 'Undefeated', as both boxers come into this contest with unblemished marks. It has become one of the most highly anticipated events of the year. To say that ticket demand was high is a vast understatement. They would go on sale at the MGM Grand at ten in the morning and be sold out in less than 40 minutes. The actual bout is about two-and-a-half months away, but Mayweather would begin his verbal assault on this sunny Southern California afternoon. "He wants a toe-to-toe battle, that's what I'm going to give you December 8th, if that's what you want," he would state as he took the mic. "No problem, I'm not going to dance on my toes. I'm going to dance when I'm on 'Dancing with the Stars'. So you don't have to worry about me dancing on December 8th." He would then say to Hatton: "Once I dust you off in the United States, I'll take you over to England, dust you off there. You can get two for the price of one." Shortly afterwards, he would introduce his partner on 'Dancing with the Stars', Karina Smirnoff, who was in attendance, and actually had her come up on stage so they could execute a short version of the 'cha cha' before he could, "get back and talk about this bum." To him, Hatton has defeated a litany of has-beens. "You must realize this, he’s not fighting Kostya Tszyu. Kostya Tszyu, over the hill. Over the hill, man. You’re a helluva wrestler, though. Don't punch and hold," he would warn his future opponent. "I'm gonna come to you, you don't gotta come to me. I'm gonna come to you. What's that boy’s name? The other bum? He fought so many fighters that's over the hill. You fittin' to go over-the-hill, soon." After a few shout-outs and acknowledgments to various members of the audience, he would add, "After I dust you off, I don't know who's next." Some in the audience would suggest the winner of the Shane Mosley-Miguel Cotto bout that takes place on November 10th. "That ain't no paper, baby," was his reply. "I like that big money. They don't call me Floyd 'Money' Mayweather for nothin'." In closing he would say, "So December 8th, you must buy this fight because we gonna give you a toe-to-toe battle." Promises, promises, we've heard that before. But while he may not be in Hatton's face in early December, he didn't hesitate to get in his grill as they posed for pictures. As they squared off, a steady stream of consciousness would flow from Mayweather. Through it all, Hatton, who took the earlier barbs with great aplomb, seemed rather entertained with the phony swagger of Mayweather. As he would chuckle and look away, Mayweather would then continue his diatribe by talking directly into the ear of Hatton, as he seemed to pose for photos. The one-sided exchange went on for a good five minutes before both fighters had to be pulled away - not because of any potential melee - but to take care of their media obligations. "I was never someone to get right in your face, try and intimidate you like that. I found it quite amusing, actually," said Hatton to a group of writers shortly afterwards. And what were the sweet nothings whispered into his ear? "I didn't hear half of it," he would say. "But I just knew it was coming. Y'know, 'I'm going to beat you like a bitch. Butt-f**k you...' and just basic stuff like that." Hatton would mention, "It wasn't boxing and tactic talk, it was just nonsense really." No kidding. Hatton was asked if he feels Mayweather will continue to try and push his buttons as this tour progresses. "Yeah, I think so," was his reply. "I won’t be surprised if he whacked me because I think he wants a reaction. He must've said to me about fifteen times, 'Say something, say something.' And I just stood there laughing at him. So by the end of the week he might get a little pissed off." Unlike De La Hoya, who seemed visibly perturbed by Mayweather's antics on their cross-country press junket, Hatton is unfazed, at least for now. Many pundits believe Mayweather will outbox and outpoint Hatton. But does he give any credence to Mayweather's proclamation that he will fight him? "Well, I don't want to speak too soon because he's a very versatile fighter. Don't kid yourself, he can fight up close and in close quarters and I don't want to make it sound that he can't. But I think he may stand there initially but then eventually he will back up. I'm not saying all he does is jab and move and get on the back foot and can't fight up close because he is a good fighter and he can pretty much do everything. But I don't think it'll last that long if he does, really." Mayweather made similar promises of destruction against Carlos Baldomir last year in a fight that had the patrons leaving long before the last bell sounded. "I think Baldomir is pedestrian-like, he was slow, he was not really a big puncher and he covered more miles than Forrest Gump against him, didn't he?" cracked Hatton. He would say later, "He's going to be in a good fight for a change." But Mayweather seems dismissive of the Manchester native, which is perhaps one of the reasons why he signed up for 'Dancing with the Stars'. You get the sense he wouldn't have done this if he was facing either a Cotto or Mosley. "If you go off the way he's talking then you'd have to say yes (he is taking me lightly)," Hatton would say. "But he's got where he's at because he's dedicated and that's his job and that's what he does best, really. There's nothing he loves more than boxing, but maybe he doesn't realize I'm quite as good as what I am." Hatton believes defeating him is easier said than done. "It's only when fighters actually get in there with me that they realize that there's a method to the madness. I think he'll be surprised. I think he'll speak a bit more highly of me after that fight. "Well, I know he will." SELL OUT I think it's great that the business of boxing has another event that is sold-out and figures to do solid pay-per-view numbers. However, I've gotten more than a few emails from disappointed fans that seemingly never had a chance to get tickets to 'Undefeated'. It's a fact of life, when a casino fight is in demand, that most of the tickets will be gobbled up by the casinos and sponsors, and in this particular case, British travel agencies and brokers. But too often, the average fan is left out in the cold. Perhaps it's time for the powers-that-be to start getting a bit more creative in where the sport’s biggest events take place. Yes, I fully realize that the casinos will now get the lion’s share of boxing's biggest events, but if you look at the heyday of boxing (which admittedly is a loooooong time ago) they had fights where up to 120,000-plus were in attendance. I know that era has come and gone, but there are certain fights that could - and would have - done well over the capacity of any Las Vegas casino venue. If you want to really grow the game for the long term, the regular folks need to have the opportunity to at least participate in bouts like De La Hoya-Mayweather and Mayweather-Hatton and not just be the poor saps who are left outside the velvet rope near Studio 54. It just seems a bit hollow to tell folks, 'Hey, you have no shot at getting inside the arena, but come to Vegas and pay 50-bucks for a closed circuit ticket." Seriously, couldn't you just stay at home and do that without the cost of travel and lodging? WAITING LIST Hatton would tell reporters that both he and Mayweather were allocated 3,980 tickets on each side and that back in England there was a waiting list of about 33,000 for this event. This ticket seems to be tougher to get than Packers season tickets in Green Bay. So wouldn't this event be better served in a bigger venue, perhaps overseas? Hatton would point out that with the difference in time zones and the contrasting climates, putting the fight at this time in Manchester, or anywhere in Europe, would cause some logistical nightmares. But he did say, "If you would've put it in England in the open air stadium or something like that, I reckon you would've got 60,000." CORNER RUMBLINGS I hear that long-time trainer Rudy Perez will not be working the corner of Marco Antonio Barrera when he faces Manny Pacquiao on October 6th. I've been told by good sources that both Perez and longtime adviser Robert Diaz have moved on. For Questions or Comments E-Mail Steve Kim at k9kim@maxboxing.com Today's Boxing Press Discuss this Topic - Go to the forums