Ricky Hatton believes his decision to axe trainer Billy Graham and hire Floyd Mayweather Snr has given him a new lease of life.

Hatton recently split with Graham after 11 years and is already reaping the rewards after his first two training sessions with Mayweather Snr, who helped the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Chad Dawson and Joan Guzman fulfil their potential.

Now the English fighter will spend two weeks training with Mayweather Snr in Manchester before flying to Las Vegas on October 16 ahead of his bout with IBF light-welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi on November 22.

"Floyd has come in and given me a new lease of life," Hatton said. "He's slowed me down and given me a more subtle approach.

"I was up at 6am this morning, Floyd came to my house and I ran five miles around Gee Cross in Hyde with dumb bells in my hands.

"Floyd was side by side with me all the way - in a Range Rover I might add - saying, 'Come on, jab, jab, step off, one-two!'.

"It was hard because it's very hilly where I live but because it was new I got a buzz from it.

"As soon as we got back to my house he jumped out the car and we did a little bit of sparring.

"I've got to get used to him calling the shots and the different combinations, plus I need to get to know him as a person and as a coach.

"I took him with me to the Manchester City versus Liverpool game, we had a meal and I think he enjoyed himself."

Hatton admitted he should have changed trainers sooner and added: "Billy thought he could continue training me but I had to be man enough to say no because it just wasn't possible.

"Everyone was telling me to leave him earlier and I think it's clear because, slowly but surely, everyone else left him.

"I couldn't do it because of how I had such a close relationship with him but when Matthew (Hatton's brother) left I knew I had to be a man and leave as well."

AFP

Back to Home

Print