Hatton hopes spirit will prevail

Hatton v Mayweather
Date: Sunday, 8 December
Starts from: 0100 GMT
Location: Las Vegas
Watch: Sky pay-per-view
Listen: BBC Radio 5live Updates: BBC Sport website and mobile

Ricky Hatton says his heart will be the difference between himself and Floyd Mayweather when they meet in Las Vegas in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Hatton added Mayweather, who is defending his WBC welterweight crown, will also pay for underestimating him.

"I've never seen Floyd dig deep, grab the bull by the horns and pull a fight out of the bag," Hatton told BBC Sport.

"I'm sure he's in the best shape of his life, but he does not realise how good I am and that's going to be a shock."

The 30-year-old Hatton, unbeaten in 43 professional fights, added: "He's got to dig deep at the weekend to win.

"He thinks I'm going to be 100mph bull at a gate, but I've shown that I'm not just that and that's what's going to win it."

Hatton said a lot of boxing experts have said he is better than Jose Luis Castillo - who controversially lost to Mayweather in 2002.

"A lot of people thought Jose Luis Castillo beat Mayweather (in 2002), and Castillo in his prime wasn't as good as me," Hatton added.

"His footwork wasn't as good as mine, his footwork wasn't as quick as mine, he wasn't as physically strong as me or as explosive as me.

Source: BBC Sport