In a recent press conference, World Boxing Council welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (38-0, 24 KOs) said “I respect what Robinson and Ali did for the sport, but I am the greatest and this is my time.” It’s unclear whether Mayweather, in fact, believes what he says or whether it was done to get more publicity for himself and December 8th bout with Ricky Hatton. However, after watching Hatton-Mayweather 24/7 on HBO, I tend to think Mayweather actually believes that he is the greatest fighter of all time, even though he’s weaved his career and somehow avoided taking on the best fighters in each weight class that he’s competed in.
Certainly, his performance in his last bout, a split decision over the aged Oscar De La Hoya in May 2007, would indicate that Mayweather is far from being the greatest. In fact, Mayweather likely isn’t even the best of the welterweights at this point in time. That would, it seem, belong either to Paul Williams, Antonio Margarito or Miguel Cotto, all of which Mayweather would find it hard to use his punch and run style with much effectiveness.
As lnternational Boxing Federation light welterweight champion Ricky Hatton (43-0, 31 KOs) prepares for his upcoming showdown with Floyd Mayweather on December 8th at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Hatton took time out for a chat session at ESPN. During the session, Hatton, 29, when asked whether he’d like to fight Miguel Cotto, said ” I’d love to fight Miguel Cotto.” There it was point blank, something that the writers like me had been waiting for, a bombshell blast. 
By Gary Jones: After a week of watching Ricky Hatton get constantly embarrassed over and over again by Floyd Mayweather Jr,, Hatton finally showed a little courage at Manchester when he let loose with a couple four letter words directed at Mayweather. It was funny, but also sad, mainly because Hatton had stood by in earlier press conferences, smiling silently and chewing his gum with a ridiculous look on his face like he was too embarrassed to respond. But once in Manchester, Hatton suddenly gets brave and finally responds now that he’s backed by thousands of his fans, many of them singing English songs, cursing and drowning out any comments made by Mayweather. 
By David Lahr: At the recent press conference in Manchester with Ricky Hatton (43-0, 31 KOs) and Floyd Mayweather Jr. (38-0, 24 KOs), Hatton commented that Mayweather “fights like a woman” and “fights on the back foot,” meaning that Mayweather tends to fight in a mostly a safety first defensive posture to avoid taking shots from his opponents. However, what Hatton fails to realize in saying this, though, is that all of the former great boxers of the past, for example, Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammed Ali, Ezzard Charles and Jack Johnson, as well as boxing stars of the present, like Roy Jones Jr., and Chris Byrd, use the same style of fighting with most of their weight on their back foot. 
“This fight is going to be extremely exciting, the buzz is worldwide and I am very excited that Golden Boy can bring another great event to boxing fans,” said Oscar de la Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions. “This is one of the biggest nights in boxing history, showcasing a welterweight match-up between two undefeated fighters … a fantastic way to end a record-breaking year.”