Floyd Mayweather has suggested he won't accept a "fake" exhibition clash with former opponent Ricky Hatton.
Mayweather will return to the ring in his fifth exhibition contest against YouTube star Deji at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai on Sunday night. Just the evening before, the boxing legend's former opponent Hatton will also be in action when he takes on Marco Antonio Barrera at the AO Arena in Manchester.
Hatton fought Mayweather during the prime of their careers, with the Briton losing to a late stoppage in the tenth round of their Las Vegas clash in 2007. And the 45-year-old has saluted the British star ahead of his new outing, and recalled the events of their showdown. "I don't have to do it we already did it for real," Mayweather said at today's press conference ahead of his clash with Deji.
"Why do it for fake? Ricky Hatton we have had a chance. The great thing at that particular time is that he was at the top of his game. I have always been at the top of my game. We were able to come together and get fans all around the world excited. Ricky Hatton is one hell of a champion and a UK legend and it was in 2007 when we gave the world what they wanted to see. Action."
Hatton has claimed previously his exhibition with Barrera will be the only time that fans are able to see him back in action, having made a huge weight cut to get fit for the event. However with Mayweather also back in action for his latest outing this weekend, speculation grew that the pair could put on another fan-friendly battle in 2023.
Mayweather also confirmed his intentions to make his debut in the UK, with talks currently being proposed for a number of opponents to step up to the plate next spring. The Briton suggested he was open to the idea but has questioned why Mayweather is currently stepping in the ring with social media stars such as Deji and former opponent Logan Paul.
"I believe so,' Hatton told the Daily Mail when asked about a second meeting with Mayweather. "Floyd is doing a lot of them, he's the greatest of all time. I hope it doesn't bite me on the a***, I think it won't. I don't like to think I'd [fight] a YouTuber. The whole point of these is [that] it's for a lot of people who struggle with mental health. I'm sharing the ring with Marco. Not Joe Bloggs. I
"I'd look at it [if he called me], for the same reason as I've said. I've been in with Floyd. I thought, 'Jesus he was good'. To do that again, to share the ring with arguably the greatest of all time, of course I would, I'd look at it. But this my first one."
